(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Jeff D’Andrea

Bears Hockey

Bears swept by Stars; Esso Cup hosting in doubt

Mar 10, 2022 | 12:00 PM

The Prince Albert Northern Bears Saskatchewan Female U18 AAA Hockey League (SFU18AAAHL) season has come to a close after they lost 3-2 to the Saskatoon Stars Wednesday at Merlis Belsher Place, completing the opening-round playoff sweep.

But even though the Bears were slated to host the Esso Cup national U18 AAA tournament this year, Wednesday’s contest might be their final game of the season. According to both Bears’ president Laura Quesnel and Esso Cup hosting committee chair Robin Wildey, Hockey Canada has been investigating whether or not the tournament will be held in Prince Albert or another location.

Quesnel said no official decision has been made from Hockey Canada as of Thursday morning and is unsure of whether the tournament will take place in Prince Albert this year.

Even on the Saskatchewan Female U18 AAA Hockey League website in their update about the playoffs, the Esso Cup location is listed as “TBD.”

Jeremy Knight, manager of corporate communications with Hockey Canada, confirmed they are reviewing what to do with all of their national championships this spring.

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“Hockey Canada is still reviewing with our Members all possible options to host National Championships in the Spring of 2022. At this point we do not have any detailed updates but hope to have more information available in the coming weeks,” Knight said.

Hockey Canada is currently reviewing with our Members all possible options to host National Championships in the Spring of 2022. At this point, we do not have any detailed updates but will make a hosting decision with the best interest of the athletes at the forefront. We hope to have more information available in the coming weeks.”

Should the Esso Cup’s location be changed from Prince Albert this year, that would make it the third straight year the tournament would be scheduled to run at the Art Hauser Centre in vain. The tournament was originally scheduled for April 2020, but was cancelled roughly a month prior due to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Esso Cup was then rescheduled for Prince Albert in 2021 but was similarly cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns. The tournament was slated for Prince Albert again for 2022, before this uncertainty of the tournament.

The Bears finished this season with 11 wins (10 in regulation) in 30 regular-season games. That’s their lowest total since the 2010-11 season when the Bears had 10 wins, 17 defeats, and one loss in 28 games played.

Stars 3 Bears 2

Wednesday’s game was the closest the Bears came to a victory in the series. They were in a 2-0 hole within the first 13 minutes of the game, but Erin Kirkland got them on the board near the end of the opening period. The Stars scored on the power play to start the second to restore their two-goal lead before Claudia Lammers got the Bears within one heading into the third.

Bears’ Erin Kirkland scored twice in the series for the Bears while Julia Cey, Brooklin Fry, and Jasmine Kohl all had a goal and an assist. Sophia Zuck had two helpers in the series, while Jacquelyne Chief and Claudia Lammers also scored for the Bears.

Avery Bairos scored six goals in three games in the series for the Stars.

Award winners

Bears forward Sophia Zuck was named to the SFU18AAAHL Second All-Star Team this year. Zuck led the Bears with 15 goals and 35 points in 30 games in her final U18 AAA season. The Prince Albert product committed to the University of Calgary Dinos to play USports Women’s Hockey starting next season.

Bears’ treasurer Al Dyer was also named as one of the co-winners for the Esso Volunteer Award.

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Jeff.dandrea@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW