PLAYOFF ROUND-UP: Aces to play Warren in SEMHL finals

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This article was published 13/03/2024 (408 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Teams from across the region continue to battle in their respective league’s playoffs as the end of hockey season fast approaches.

SEMHL

It took an extra week, but the Ste Anne Aces finally know who they will be facing in the South East Manitoba Hockey League finals.

The Aces were able to sweep their semi-final series against the Winkler Royals, and were left waiting after the Warren Mercs won two games in a row to stave off elimination and force a decisive game five against the Morden Bombers. The Mercs completed the comeback, taking game five on home ice 7-3 March 12.

The Mercs and Aces were the top two teams throughout most of the regular season in the SEMHL, and appropriately they will play in the league final.

The two teams split their games this season, with Warren winning 3-2 at home Jan. 13 and Ste Anne taking the first match-up of the year 5-4 in December.

Game one of the seven-game final series will take place March 16 at 8 p.m. in Ste Anne, with the Maurice Chaput Arena hosting game three March 20, also at 8 p.m.

Eastman Selects

The female U18 team was in action March 13 in Niverville, with their season on the line.

Up against the second-seed Westman Wildcats, the Selects have lost two games in Hartney, and won their only game at home. The game two 4-1 victory was Eastman’s first victory over Westman this season, with the Selects losing their four regular season match-ups this year.

In game one, Eastman fell behind 2-0 in the second period, but couldn’t complete the comeback, losing 2-1. In game two The Selects built a 4-0 lead on the back of opportunistic scoring. Eastman managed to score four goals while only directing 17 shots on net.

Eastman starter Addison Tomes was brilliant in the victory, with a late Westman tally ruining her bid for a 35-save shutout.

In game three a pair of second-period powerplay goals provided most of the difference, as the Wildcats cruised to a 4-0 victory.

If the Selects can force a game five, it will take place in Hartney March 15.

The Eastman Selects male U15 team were also in action, playing in their league finals against the Brandon Wheat Kings. After losing the first two games of the series in Brandon, the Selects looked poised to get back on track in the best-of-seven, but lost a heart-breaker in Landmark March 10.

Eastman built a 2-0 lead through two periods, only missing out on a bigger lead because of a quick whistle from the referee which took away a sure goal.

Brandon stormed back with a three-goal third period to take game three, and take a 3-0 stranglehold on the series, which they would convert with a 6-3 win in game four in Landmark March 12, winning the series and taking home the banner.

MMJHL

The Morris-based Pembina Valley Twisters may hold a 3-0 series lead in their best-of-seven Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League quarterfinal series, but they haven’t make it look easy.

In game one March 8, the Twisters scored only a single time against the Raiders Jr Hockey Club, but that was enough to pick up the victory, as Derek Wiebe’s first period tally was the only goal of the game in a 1-0 victory.

The margin of victory was even tighter in game two, with Mike Heppner scoring half-way through the second overtime period to give the Twisters the victory.

After a back and forth first and second period, the teams were tied going into the third, before a pair of quick Raiders goals put the home team on the brink of tying the series.

Colton Wiebe was able to respond just 20 seconds after the Raiders took a two-goal lead, with Cohen Thomas and Zander Carels scoring a minute apart late in the period to give Pembina Valley a 5-4 lead. Even that wasn’t enough, as the Raiders forced overtime with the sixth goal of the period, scored with under three minutes to play.

Game three March 12 was a less competitive affair, with Pembina Valley goaltender Owen LaRocque getting the start after Logan Enns played in the first two games and posting a shutout as the Twisters won 4-0.

LaRocque helped backstop the Virden Oil Capitals to the Manitoba Junior Hockey League finals last season.