Published: Wednesday, 09 March 2022 23:13
Written by David Zammit

A strong outing from the Swift Current Innovation Credit Union U18 Female AAA Wildcats top-six forward group this evening propelled them past the Battlefords Sharks to reclaim their series edge.

Wildcats forward Jerzey Watteyne scored twice in the final frame lifting Swift Current to the 4-0 victory at the Fairview West Arena to give them a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-five series.

Captain Ava Metzger and centre Kiana McNinch each had goals, while goalie Aurora Van Wormer notched a 22-save shutout.

“After our loss on the weekend we knew things weren’t going to be easy, their team battles hard,” McNinch said. “We knew we had to get a second effort and I think that’s what we did today. We played as a team and that’s what brought us out on top.”

Metzger opened the scoring 2:41 into the second period stuffing home a rebound after Laiken Swan drove to the net with the puck.

“We talked today and we just wanted to drive the net,” she said. “There goalie is very good so we just wanted to not be perimeter players and play in the middle of the ice.”

About 3:30 later, McNinch beat Sharks goalie Emma Backman on a wrist shot along the ice that just squeaked under her right pad.

“I was actually shooting for the rebound,” she explained. “She’s very good up top and throwing it low I think threw her off and it just trickled in.”

Watteyne clinched game three for Swift Current with 62 seconds remaining in the third period scoring into the Sharks’ empty net making it 3-0. She wasn’t done offensively just 23 seconds later she deked out Backman on a breakaway and made no mistake on her second tally of the night.

The Wildcats have a chance to finish off the first-round matchup in Battlefords on Saturday night.