After her practice on Thursday, Bears captain Brooklyn Anderson learned her Midget AAA career was over. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Jeff D'Andrea

Brooklyn's Bears

Bears learned season was cancelled after Thursday’s practice

Mar 13, 2020 | 4:52 PM

While Hockey Canada and the Saskatchewan Hockey Association were cancelling their events and seasons on Thursday evening due to concerns with COVID-19, the Prince Albert Northern Bears were still on the ice practicing.

For all they knew at that point, they were preparing for playoffs. Their minds were focused on Saturday’s game against the Saskatoon Stars.

But once they got off the ice and checked their phones in the dressing room, they found out everything was cancelled. The Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League playoffs was cancelled. The Esso Cup national midget AAA tournament they were hosting was also cancelled.

And for Bears captain Brooklyn Anderson, she found out her Midget AAA career was finished.

“After practice, we got the news. The team kind of broke down a little bit,” Anderson, who played 99 games with the Bears over the last four season and scored 72 points, said. “It’s definitely disappointing.”

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Anderson is one of six graduating players on the Bears, with the others being assistant captains Jasper Desmarais and Jessie Herner, as well as McKenzie Mayo, Tori MacDonald and Lauren Willoughby. They all played their last game on Sunday, a 2-1 overtime victory over the Saskatoon Stars.

Anderson scored the overtime winner in that game. Although her last ever action as a Bear will be scoring a game-winning goal, Anderson definitely wishes she could still play and the help the team.

“It’s definitely not the way we wanted to go out, knowing we played our last game,” Anderson said. “It doesn’t make you feel too good, obviously.”

Every SFMAAAHL team’s season has come to an end, but it’s a double whammy against the Bears as they were set to host the 2020 Esso Cup in April. The team spent two years planning the event.

“It’s going to be a sore spot for a while, I’m sure. With a lot of people, there’s a lot of work that’s gone into it,” Bears head coach Jeff Willoughby said. “I think of the graduating players that won’t have that chance anymore. It’s a pretty deep wound right now.”

Anderson and Desmarais are the two remaining Bears that were one the 2016-17 team that won the SFMAAAHL title and moved on to the 2017 Esso Cup in Morden, Man. Anderson said she was looking forward for another chance to play in the tournament, especially so close to her hometown of Shellbrook.

“That was really heartbreaking for us. We put all our work in this year,” Anderson said. “That was something we were really looking forward to. Me and Jasper had a second chance to go there. Knowing we can’t now, it’s obviously not the best feeling.”

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW