Wind Sweetheart champions

Hustler nets game-winning goals in semifinal, final

The Western Wind had a perfect showing en route winning the bantam AAA championship banner at the Sweetheart female hockey tournament recently.

The Wind completed play at 5-0 (won-lost) in the 11th annual event hosted by the North River Minor Hockey Association.

However, it wasn’t easy for the Wind as all five games were close, including the gold-medal match against the Fundy Hurricanes at the South Shore Actiplex in Crapaud.

Abby Hustler scored the lone goal while goaltender Madison McHugh, who was outstanding all weekend and was named the tournament most valuable player, earned the shutout in a 1-0 Wind victory.

In the semifinals, Hustler once again netted the gamewinning goal. This time, she scored three minutes into overtime to give the Wind a 3-2 decision over the Mid-Isle Wildcats at the Gateway Arena in Borden-Carleton.

In round-robin play, the Wind defeated the Metro Force West Red 2-1, Newbridge Academy 2-0 and Metro Force West Black 3-0.

A total of 11 teams competed in the Bantam AAA Female Division at the Sweetheart tournament.

Playoff bye

The Wind, who has clinched first place in the P.E.I. Bantam AAA Female Hockey League regular season, took a 10-4-5 (won-lost-tied) record into Thursday night’s regular-season finale.

The Wind, who plays out of the Evangeline Recreation Centre in Abram-Village and features 13- and 14-year-old players from Summerside to Tignish, will receive a bye to the league final, where they will face the winner of the best-of-five semifinal series between the Mid-Isle Wildcats and Central Storm.