Game 1 vs Prince Albert Bears (Team West)

The Hawks' first game of the tournament was against the West Champion Prince Albert Bears, from Saskatchewan. Having dispatched the Westman Wildcats in two straight games, to win the West Banner, the Prince Albert team was looking to beat the best team Manitoba had to offer. The Hawks, meanwhile, looked to prove their spot in the Esso Cup, by winning their first meaningful game since March 19th, when they clinched the Manitoba Female Midget AAA provincial title. After the opening ceremonies and the official ceremonial puck drop, the two teams hit the ice for a spirited first period, entertaining the packed house. Both teams seemed to be a little reserved, not wanting to be the first team to make a mistake. The play picked up though, and the nerves seemed to calm down. The play would go back and forth, with both teams being equally strong defensively. The first break in the game went to the Hawks, when Hannah Petrie would recieve a pass from behind the net from linemate Brooklyn Platt, as she waited all alone in the high slot. Hannah made no mistake, firing the puck high on the Bears goaltender's blocker side, giving the visiting Hawks a 1-0 lead. The hometown fans really got loud, as they cheered their Hawks on. Despite some great action for both teams, the score would remain 1-0 after one. In the second, the Bears really turned up the heat as they relentlessly pursued the puck. The only thing standing in their way was a red-hot goaltender, Halle Oswald. Halle turned away shot after shot for the first 22 minutes of play, and after a fortuitous bounce, a quick chip shot landed just over her pads, knotting the score at 1. The Hawks though, wouldn't roll over, and within two minutes, they would restore the one goal lead. Sage McElroy-Scott, who was carrying the puck up the ice along the side boards, chipped it ahead to Toni Conrad, who skated into the opposing zone on a partial two on one. Seeing the high glove side open, Toni wristed a shot far side, and beat the Prince Albert goalie cleanly, and the crowd erupted once again. That would prove to the game winner, as the Hawks clamped down collectively as a team, and Halle did the rest. Despite the 36-22 shot advantage for the home team Bears, the Hawks would continue their unbeaten playoff streak and skate away with the crucial game one victory. Player of the game award was deservingly awarded to Halle. 

Game two goes Monday evening at 7:00, as the Hawks face the dangerous St Albert Slash team (Pacific), which beat the Atlantic champion Mid-Isle Wildcats, 6-0.