Puck drops for playoffs across the region

Playoff hockey has kicked off across the region, with the Steinbach Regional Secondary School Sabres starting the marathon of games Feb. 11 when they started their first round series in the Winnipeg High School Hockey League

The first round of the Platinum Promotions division playoffs in the WHSHL was absolute chaos.

While fourth seed Steinbach Regional and fifth seed Collège Jeanne-Sauvé made quick work of their opponents, the three other preliminary round series saw the lower seed defeating the higher one.

The top three seeds got a first round bye, with Steinbach playing CJS in the quarterfinals. Game one was at the Southeast Event Centre after press time Feb. 18.

Springfield earned a first-round bye in the Winnipeg Free Press Division, with Lorette and Niverville finishing first and second in the Price Division.

This is the last week in the Manitoba Women’s High School Hockey regular season.

In the Zone 4 league third seeded Morris defeated Prairie Mountain in the first round and play Carman in the best-of-three semi-finals. The Mavericks will play game two Feb. 21 in Morris with puck drop at 6 p.m.

HTJHL

The six bottom teams in the Hanover-Tache Junior Hockey League competed in play-in series, with Grunthal and Ste Anne coming out on top. The Red River Mudbugs and East St Paul Gators played game three of their series after press time, with the winner taking on top-seeded Macdonald.

Other quarterfinal match-ups include Niverville and Steinbach, Mitchell taking on Ste Anne and Springfield playing Grunthal.

SEMHL

In the senior ranks, Notre Dame defeated Carman in the South East Manitoba Hockey League survivor series, setting up a first round series against top-ranked Winkler.

Red River, Ile des Chenes and Springfield have all already started their respective quarterfinal series. Springfield finished the regular season in second place, losing only three regulation games this season.

They got off to a strong start winning game one against Portage, jumping out to a 6-1 lead early in the third period. A furious comeback from Portage fell just short, with Keith Grondin scoring an empty-netter to clinch a 7-5 victory. Springfield hosts the Islanders Feb. 19 and Feb. 23 if necessary.

Ile des Chenes just beat out Red River for third place in the standings, and are tied 1-1 with Warren in their first round series after a pair of high-scoring games. Game three took place after press time Feb. 18. If a game five is needed it will be in Ile des Chenes Feb. 22.

Red River is taking on Morden, with Justin Baudry tallying a third period game-winner in game one to give the Wild a 1-0 series lead. Game three is Feb. 19 in St Jean, with a game five, if needed Feb. 24.

CRJHL

The Capital Region Junior Hockey League’s final standings will come down to the final weekend of play, with the St Malo Warriors clinching top seed and a first-round bye. Only one match-up is set, with Beausejour and North Winnipeg playing in the best-of-five quarterfinals.

Selkirk and La Broquerie are tied for third with 52 points. Both teams have a single game left, with La Broquerie taking a trip to Beausejour Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. Selkirk will play Arborg.

U18 AAA

The Eastman Selects finished in second place in the U18 AAA Manitoba Female Hockey League. They play Central Plains in the quarterfinals, with game one taking place in Niverville Feb. 18. No other games in the series have been scheduled.

A full schedule of games is available weekly in The Carillon’s print edition scoreboard