Defenceman Jersey Sigstad of the Battlefords AAA Sharks, pictured here in action this season. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Tourney Begins

AAA Sharks open Mandi Schwartz Tournament in Wilcox

Dec 7, 2023 | 6:00 AM

The Battlefords AAA Sharks return to action bright and early Thursday morning to kick off the 2023 Mandi Schwartz Memorial Hockey Tournament, in the first game of the day in Wilcox, SK.

Taking on the Red Deer Sutter Fund Chiefs in an 8 a.m. puck drop, the game will be the first of three through round-robin play the Sharks are guaranteed this week before the start of the playoff rounds.

“The girls are incredibly excited as they should be [as] it’s a prestigious event that they’ve earned their place at,” Head coach of the Sharks, Nolan Horbach said.

“With last week’s bye-week, I think we’re in a good place mentally and physically. We’ve had two excellent weeks of preparation and I think we have a good mindset ahead of our opening game against an experienced and talented Red Deer team.”

The Mandi Schwartz Memorial Tournament, which will take place Thursday to Sunday (Dec. 7-10) in Wilcox and nearby Milestone, SK., is the largest female U18 AAA hockey tournament in Western Canada, featuring 16 teams divided up amongst four divisions.

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The Sharks enter the tournament coming off a strong first half of the season that sees the team currently sitting third overall in the Sask. Female U18 AAA Hockey League standings with a 6-6-0-2 record through 14 games.

It’s their strong start that earned their invite to the tournament for the first time in franchise history. The tournament’s games will not count towards their regular season standings.

Following their opening game, the Sharks will play their second of the day Thursday evening at 6 p.m. against the Edge Mountaineers in Milestone. On Friday, the Sharks will wrap up round-robin play against the Yellowhead Chiefs, again in Milestone at 1 p.m., with the playoff rounds to follow Saturday and Sunday.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @MartyMartyPxP1