The playoffs are underway for the St. Albert Sabres in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League.
Game one in the best-of-three nitro north series between the Sabres and SSAC Southgate Lions was played Tuesday at Confederation Arena, but the score was unavailable at press time.
Game two is Thursday at 7 p.m. at Akinsdale Arena.
Game three, if needed, is Sunday at 5:45 p.m. at Millwoods Arena.
In the nitro standings SSAC – three-time defending AMBHL champions and 2013 western Canadian gold medallists – finished on top at 28-41 and the Sabres placed fourth at 17-12-4.
In league play the Sabres beat SSAC 5-3 in October, then lost three in a row by scores of 3-2, 4-3 and 6-5.
The Sabres skated into the playoffs with a 3-3 record after the John Reid Memorial Tournament.
The team’s last game, a 3-2 loss to the Camrose Vikings (15-12-6 in charger north) Saturday in St. Albert, derailed an opportunity to finish ahead of the Sherwood Park Flyers (17-11-5) for a playoff date with the second-place Canadian Athletic Club (19-12-2).
Bret Mossing and captain Matt Kasowski scored and Zach Marano assisted on both goals.
The Sabres were outshot 33-18. In net was Chris Curr (7-5-4, 2.75 GAA).
The puck drops tonight for the St. Albert Slash in the Alberta Major Midget Female Hockey League playoffs.
Game time is 7:15 p.m. against the Spruce Grove PAC Saints at Tri Leisure Centre.
Game two is Friday at 7:45 p.m. at Northstar Hyundai Arena.
Game three, if needed, is Sunday at 10:45 a.m. at Grant Fuhr Arena.
In the north standings the Saints (9-15-8) finished fourth and the Slash (6-21-5) placed fifth out of six teams.
The teams split the four-game season series.
In league play the Slash lost 11 in a row, including six by shutouts, before ending the regular season with a 2-1 decision against the Peace Country Storm (15-14-3) Feb. 1 in St. Albert.
The host team for the senior AA/A provincials have six weeks to prepare for the March 28 to 30 tournament after losing two straight in the opening playoff round in the North Central Hockey League.
The Morinville Kings, ranked No. 2 in league play in their inaugural NCHL season, were swept away by the Westlock Warriors 6-4 in game one at Ray McDonald Sports Centre and 4-3 Saturday in Westlock.
In game two the Warriors scored the only goal in period three with 4:11 remaining in regulation time.
In the opening period the Warriors tallied twice before Benjamin Lamer and Shane O’Neill replied for the Kings.
Brayden Arcand tied it at 3-3 in the middle frame after the Warriors were successful on a penalty shot.
Shots were 41-17 for the Kings, who outchanced the Warriors 22-9.
Marcus Johnson was in net for the Warriors and Jordan Panasiuk was between the pipes for the Kings.
In the playoff lid-lifter the Warriors broke open a 4-4 tie with 2:32 to play and scored into an empty net with 17 ticks on the clock.
Period scores were 1-0 Kings and 4-3 Warriors.
The Kings were also plagued by penalties in game one.
Arcand led the Kings in playoff scoring with four points.
In league play the Kings (13-4-1) posted victories of 6-5 and 8-7 against the Warriors (9-9).
