Golden Hawks open playoff series tonight

As quickly as the Lethbridge Val Matteotti bantam AAA Golden Hawks regular season has ended, their post-season has begun.

After taking third place in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League Ram South Division with a 22-10-4 record, the Golden Hawks are in Red Deer tonight for Game 1 of the team’s best-of-three division quarterfinal series against the Rebels.

Game 2 goes Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at Nicholas Sheran Arena and, if necessary, Game 3 is in Red Deer Friday.

The Golden Hawks finished the regular season with a loss and a win on the road last weekend.

Lethbridge was defeated 5-2 by the Calgary Bisons Saturday in Calgary, but edged the Medicine Hat SEAC Tigers 3-2 Sunday in Medicine Hat.

In Saturday’s loss in Calgary, the Golden Hawks scored twice in the second period, but trailed the Bisons 4-2 after 40 minutes.

Colby Garner and Rylan Bruns scored for Lethbridge and Garner added an assist for two points.

Golden Hawks goaltender Tyler Palmer made 31 saves in the loss.

Brody Tallman scored 56 seconds into the third period Sunday in Medicine Hat for the eventual gamewinner as the Golden Hawks finished the regular season on a winning note.

Rylen Roersma and Garner scored in the first period for Lethbridge.

Erick Roest stopped 29 shots to earn the win.