The last game for the St. Albert Sabres before the playoffs in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League goes tonight against the SSAC Southgate Lions. Faceoff is 7:45 p.m. at Akinsdale Arena.
The Lions (24-3-3) and Sabres (23-6-3) are ranked first and second respectively in the north conference.
The Sabres are coming off a 6-1 win Saturday against the Grande Prairie Storm (3-28) in St. Albert. Goal scorers were Paul Lovsin, Michael Bruni, Andrew Kary, Brett Smythe, Steven Canduro and Matteo Gennaro. Shots were 49-16 for the home team. Patrick Dea (11-3-1, 2.50 GAA) was in net.
In playoff action, the best-of-three divisional semifinals start Tuesday. The Sabres will play the Sherwood Park Flyers (15-13-3) in the opening round. Last week the Sabres blanked the Flyers 5-0 in Sherwood Park. Dea faced 22 shots. Lovsin, Kary, Gennaro, Michael Buchamer and Taylor Lotoski notched goals.
The puck drops Friday night for the St. Albert Slash in the Alberta Major Midget Female Hockey League playoffs.
Game one in the best-of-three north division semifinal against the Spruce Grove Saints starts at 8:15 p.m. at Troy Murray Arena.
Game two is Saturday at 8:15 p.m. at the Tri-Leisure Centre.
Game three, if needed, is Sunday at 12:15 p.m. at Performance Arena.
In the north standings, the Slash (23-6-3) finished second and the Saints (8-23-1) placed third out of six teams.
In the opening playoff round, the Slash and first-place Edmonton Thunder (27-0-5) had byes. The Saints swept the last-place Grande Prairie Storm (3-25-4) by scores of 4-0 and 6-3.
The Slash are the host team for the Esso Cup national championship, April 17 to 23 at Servus Credit Union Place. The tournament will feature five regional champions (Pacific, West, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic) and the Slash.
The Esso Cup is hosted by the St. Albert Minor Hockey Association and the St. Albert Raiders Hockey Club.
The Dynamyx Gymnastics Club of St. Albert hosts its annual Sweetheart of a Meet on Saturday.
Session times are 8:50 a.m. (level 3, P3 – all categories, and P2 open), 12:50 p.m. (level 2, P2 argo, tyro and novice) and 4:50 p.m. (level 1, P1 – all categories). Dynamyx has female competitors in all sessions.
Thirteen clubs from the province will be represented.
Visit www.dynamyxgymnastics.com for more information.
