The U18 AA Northwest Sharks, pictured here at Regina's Legislative Building, return to home ice at the ACC in North Battleford Sunday for the deciding game of their series with the Regina Rebels. (Submitted photo/Brendan Kramer)

By Martin Martinson

Winner-take-all

U18 Northwest Sharks host Regina for deciding game of provincial final

Mar 24, 2024 | 2:30 PM

The Northwest Sharks U18 AA team look to make history Sunday evening, in Game 3 of their provincial finals series the Regina Rebels, in North Battleford.

A winner-take-all series-deciding showdown, with a victory, the Sharks can become the first local female U18 team in program history to claim a provincial title.

Head coach, Brendan Kramer said with the championship at stake and series on the line Sunday, it’s going to take a complete effort from all-hands-on-deck to get the job done and finish the season as champions.

“It’s going to be a battle […] We need a super aggressive forecheck and a relentless backcheck; to get pucks on net, and be ready to battle for loose pucks,” he said.

If there’s one thing the Sharks have proven on their run to the provincial finals this season, it’s their ability to step up in the biggest moments, when the lights are the brightest. Each of the team’s last three wins have come in overtime, with two-of-the-three decided deep into the night in double OT.

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Against the top seed in the North, the PA Foxes in the semis, the Sharks rallied from a one-game deficit to win two straight in extra time on back-to-back OT winners scored by Kadence O’Brian, to punch their ticket to the finals.

In Game 1 against the Rebels, the Sharks then again rallied back, this time from a 2-1 deficit late in the third, on a tying goal by Jersie Anderson, and winner by Jayce Brown in the second OT.

The Sharks are also backed by an elite puck-stopper in Shelbi Thunderblanket, who is currently in the midst of a legendary post-season run. Thunderblanket has saved 96 of her first 101 shots-faced against Regina, for an incredible .950 save percentage on the series. She has stopped 304 of the 323 total shots she’s faced these playoffs, for a .941 save percentage over the three rounds of the post-season.

Sunday’s Game 3 at the Access Communications Centre, will begin at 5:30 p.m.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @MartyMartyPxP1