The Highwood Raiders are one win from the Alberta Major Midget Female Hockey League (AMMFHL) final.
With 7-2 and 4-3 weekend wins (March 8-9) over Red Deer, the Raiders lead the best-of-5, South Division final 2-0 and can seal the deal March 14 in Airdrie. With a win in Airdrie, the Okotoks-based team featuring seven skaters and a head coach from Cochrane advance to the league final against the winner of the Edmonton/Lloydminster series.
“We’re not taking Red Deer lightly at all,” said Raiders head coach Jason Seper following the March 8 home game at Scott Seaman Arena in east Dewinton. “They beat a very good team to get here and our season series was relatively even,
“We knew it would be hard fought and we got some breaks at the end and our skill came to life.
“Overall we had a really good game. The girls should be proud.”
The South Division series opened with Highwood’s Cochranites lighting up the scoresheet. Gabrielle Seper had two goals and an assist, with younger sister Nicolette Seper collecting a goal and three helpers. Hannah Olenyk had a goal and three assists with Bearspaw’s Emily Potts netting a goal and two assists. Strathmore’s Sarah Lecavalier sniped a pair for Highwood, which swarmed to the net from the outset, making life difficult for Chiefs starter Nisa Bartlett.
“We know that she’s a good goaltender and we had to get people in front of her, pucks to the net and find the rebounds,” coach Seper said.
Nicolette Seper, Lecavalier, Gabrielle Seper and Kaylin Snodgrass scored Highwood’s goals in Game 2.
Game 3 goes 7:45 p.m. March 14 at Ebbessen Arena in Airdrie.
- files from Remy Greer,Okotoks Western Wheel
