Northwest schools battle for top spot

West Kildonan

Garden City

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This article was published 31/01/2024 (918 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

With the Manitoba Women’s High School Hockey League regular season winding down, two schools from northwest Winnipeg find themselves vying for top spots in Division 2.

At press time, the Sanford Sabres were in first place, with a 14-2-0 record, good for 40 points. But West Kildonan (11-5-2, 32 points) and Garden City (11-7-0, 31 points) were closing in, while Oak Park (9-5-2, 29 points) was also not far behind, with more games in hand than any team other than Sanford. Lorette, in second place, along with Miles Macdonell, Centre scolaire Leo Remillard, Sturgeon Heights, St. John’s-Ravenscourt, and Portage Collegiate round out the Division 2 competition.

“We’ve got a great group of girls,” said Derek Fyfe, West Kildonan Wolverines head coach. “The girls are learning how to play some positional, structured hockey, but it is more of a never give up effort. It’s hard work right to the end. They do not stop forechecking and backchecking, hard.”

With a leadership group of veteran players — including captain Avery Fyfe (five goals, seven assists in 17 games), and assistant captains Allie Ledet (seven goals, eight assists in 18 games), Carmyn Christian (five goals, five assists in 17 games) and Lily Stevenson (one goal, three asists in 16 games) — mentoring younger players, the Wolverines are hoping to remain consistent for during the final stretch into playoffs.

“They’re some of the hardest-working players on the team. There’s no selfishness. They work together,” Fyfe said. “We’re not really changing anything. Focus is keeping that effort up. Our hope is to go as far as we can in the playoffs. We’re a stronger team than we were last year, and there’s potential to go deep. But you never know.”

“We’re a strong team both offensively and defensively,” said Jeff Pott, head coach of the defending division champion Garden City Gophers. “The girls mesh really well together. They’re working as a team, which makes the team a lot better.”

Led by captain Madison Balazovic, a centre who had 14 goals and nine assists in 17 games at press time, and assistant captains Abigail Pott (centre, six goals, six assists in 18 games) and Abigail Gabriele (defence, one goal, four assists in 15 games), the young squad is focused on improving every game.

“We’re always focusing on breakouts,” Pott said. “We have a decent PP and our PK is decent, but needs a little work. There are always little things to work on.”

With playoffs starting mid-February, each team will be hoping to make these final games count.

“Going for gold would be best, but just having a good run would be good,” Pott said. “We have five or six brand new girls to the team. We won championship last year, so it would be nice to defend that. But a good strong showing, making it to the finals would be great. They’re a good group of kids, they all work hard with a drive to play.”

For up-to-date results and schedule, visit mwhshl.ca