TEAM TO BEAT
Panthers open semifinal series with Metro at home Saturday
MacIntyre Chevy Panthers midget girls start playoffs on Saturday.
The MacIntyre Chevy Panthers posted their best regularseason record since the Nova Scotia Female Midget ‘AAA’ Hockey League formed in 2008-09 but will be looking to take that next step when playoffs open this weekend.
The Panthers finished in second place with a 14-0-6-4-0 record. They’ll face the thirdplace Metro Boston Pizza (130-7-4-0) in the opening round of the playoffs starting Saturday at the Membertou Sport and Wellness Centre. Metro will host this year’s Esso Cup, the national female midget championship, April 22-28.
Panthers captain Alexa Poirier, in her third and final season with the team, has witnessed the steady progression of the program.
“It’s pretty impressive,” said the 17-year-old forward from Sydney. “I’d say this program has finished last since it’s been going, so going from last to second place, we couldn’t ask for more.
“We have a young team, but we’ve been preparing for this all year and I think we’re ready to go.”
First-year head coach Troy Chiasson said the commitment from the players has been a big reason for their turnaround this season. The team practices three times a week and is busy with regular off-ice training.
Along with finishing second place in a league that’s expanded to seven teams with the inclusion of New Brunswick clubs this season, the Panthers also claimed the 13th annual DQ Tournament in Moncton early last month.
“We’re happy with what we’ve accomplished since September, but we’re never satisfied,” said Chiasson. “We’re trying to get better every day.
“We’re facing the national host in the Boston Pizza, which we’ve played four times this year. They’ve been very tight-checking games, and we expect the same in the playoffs.
“We’re happy with what we’ve accomplished since September, but we’re never satisfied. We’re trying to get better every day.”
Troy Chiasson
We’re really looking forward to this. We have a young team, but we’re looking forward to the matchup.”
The teams hit the ice for Game 1 for the best-of-five provincial semifinal Saturday at 5 p.m. Game 2 will be played Sunday at 1 p.m.
In the other semifinal series, the first-place Northern Subway Selects (18-0-2-3-0) will face the fourth-seeded East Hants Pro Cresting Penguins (4-1-17-2-0).