Captain Mia Weber and her Sharks' teammates pictured here ahead of the championship banner presentation. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

First in Franchise History

U18 Northwest Sharks win AA provincial championship

Mar 24, 2024 | 10:54 PM

The Northwest Sharks U18 AA team made history Sunday night in North Battleford, taking home a 2-1 win in Game 3 of their provincial final series with the Regina Rebels, to win their first provincial championship in franchise history.

Goaltender, Shelbi Thunderblanket stopped 37-of-38 Regina shots to backstop the team to victory, while ‘AP’ call-up from the local U15 AA Sharks, Madeline Matweow scored both goals in the clinching win to lead the way offensively.

“I’m just happy that our team got that last-minute goal, and just happy about the 2-1 victory,” Thunderblanket said, taking a moment to reflect in the midst of on-ice celebration post-game. “It’s a really special group of girls; nobody believed that we could do it [early in the year], and we came up from the bottom of the league… and now we just came out on top.”

Asked about the thoughts and emotions going through her mind when the final horn sound, Thunderblanket couldn’t help but let out a joyous sigh of relief with a laugh.

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“I was just like, we won! …And like that, the tears came down,” She responded genuinely. “A lot of teams were rooting for us [in the finals series], from the south and the north, and.. I was just so happy about it.”

Matwoew, who’s two goals tied the game in the final minute of the second, and would serve as the game-winner in the third, said she was just excited to play a part in the U18 team’s incredible run this season.

“It means a lot, especially to be here as their ‘AP’ and to score the goals, they played a hell of a game tonight and it was really good to be here,” she said. “I’m really glad I was able to come. I played on the U15 AA Sharks and lots of them are here, and my parents and grandparents are here, so it’s nice to have everybody here; it was a good night.”

Madeline Matweow (#3) of the AA Sharks, in action against the Regina Rebels. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Sharks’ captain, Mia Weber, who is one of three graduating players on this year’s team, who will wrap up their U18 hockey careers with the provincial championship, said the victory was only made sweeter by the journey it took to get there.

“We came off pretty bad at the start of the year [at 0-5], and now we’re provincial winners, so it feels pretty good,” she said reflecting with a smile. “All my family was here, and my friends were here to congratulate me, and the girls definitely made it a really good year for me for my very last year of hockey.”

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @MartyMartyPxP1