Eastman Selects:  5    Winnipeg Wild: 0   (Mar. 13th)

It was a wild Saturday night at the home barn of the Selects, as they looked to close off the series against the top team of the league. With an extremely noisy and packed crowd, Eastman scored the first goal of the game and never looked back. Only a minute and a half into the first period, Tim Rollins and Brett Hanson moved the puck well and set up Brent Wold, who took a great shot and put it past the Wild goalie. The home town crowd was whipped into a noisy frenzy, with all the noise makers working hard to cheer on the Eastman team. A few minutes later, Brett Hanson made it 2-0, with assists coming from Shane Froese and Tim Rollins. Shots on net were fairly close for the first period, at 12 to 10 in favor of Eastman.

The second period was very close, with hard and fast action in both ends of the rink. However, at the 4:42 mark Hudson Friesen wired a shot towards the net, and Tyson Stoesz moved the puck over to a waiting Erik Pushka for the open net goal. The Selects would take the 3-0 lead into the second intermission, in spite of being outshot 14 to 8.

The Selects would continue the pressure into the third period, and Hudson Friesen put a shot on the net that made its way through a crowd and past a screened Wild goaltender. Helpers went to Colin David and Nick Kobelka. To round off the scoring and put the final nail in the series, Erik Pushka scored with 6:49 left in the period, assisted by Russell Trudeau and Colin David. All that was left to do was for the team to ensure the shut-out by Brendan Edie. Again, as he has been for the entire series, Brendan made some huge saves at key moments, and controlled the rebounds that prevented the Winnipeg team from getting a second shot on goal. 37 shots were stopped for the shut-out and the win.

Eastman now awaits the conclusion of the other semi-final series between the South West Cougars and the Pembina Valley Hawks. Keep tuned to the this site for updates on the Select's upcoming schedule and next home game.

Eastman Selects:  3    Winnipeg Wild: 1   (Mar. 11th)

Deadlocked at one game each in the series, you could almost taste the tension in the air as the Selects faced the Winnipeg Wild in St. Adolphe in game 3. The Wild threatened early, with a breakaway in the first minute of play, but Select's goalie Brendan Edie was up to the challenge and made the kick save. Eastman would mark the first goal of the game, coming from Brendan Harms with assists going to Dylan Reimer and Brett Cote. This would quiet down the home town Winnipeg fans, however with 36 seconds left in the 1st period a shot from the point was deflected in by a Wild player, and the teams would be tied after 20 minutes of play.

The second period saw no scoring, although tons of chances from both sides. The Selects dominated the first half of the frame, but lost a little steam as they saw the Wild take control in the later half of the period. A few goalposts and pucks dancing on the goal lines, but no one was able to put it away.

The Selects would pull out ahead in the third period, on Brendan Harm's second goal of the game at the 10:10 mark. He was open off to the side of the net, and one-timed a perfect pass over from Dylan Reimer. Assist also going to Nick Kobelka. A few minutes later, Colin David clinched the deal as he banged away at a loose puck sitting very close to the goal line after a mad scramble in front of the net. Helper went to Brett Hanson. The Wild threw everything they had at Brendan Edie in the last few minutes of play, but Brendan stood tall and came up with some awesome saves. Total shots on goal for the Selects were 35, while Brendan Edie kicked out 31 of the 32 shots against him.

Eastman Selects:  1    Winnipeg Wild: 2   (Mar. 9th)

The SunGro Centre was packed to the rafters Tuesday night, cheering on their hometown Selects to another win. Eastman would put the first goal away, coming on a powerplay with only 25 seconds left in the 2nd period. Brett Hanson put it away, assisted by Brent Wold.

The momentum would switch over in favor of the Wild in the third period, as they pounded a lot of pucks towards the Eastman goal. They scored halfway through the period, and added their second with only 4:36 left.  The Selects pulled their goalie for the extra attacker, but were unable to find the tieing goal. A 2 -1 final in a very hard fought game. The Wild outshot Eastman by a margin of 37 to 23. Selects goalie Brendan Edie was once again stellar, keeping out 35 of the 37 shots against him.

The Selects rolled into the home of the Winnipeg Wild, in game 1 of the best-of-five series against the top team in the regular season. The Selects struck first early in the first period, as Brent Wold opened the scoring after being set up nicely by Brett Hanson.   They would add another shortly after, this time Tim Rollins converting a pass from Brett Hanson. The helper also went to Dalton Reimer. The Wild replied with a goal of their own late in the first frame, and went into the intermission with the Selects up 2 to 1.

There would be no scoring in the second period, with hard and fast action in both ends of the rink.

The third period was again full of chances for both sides, however there would be no further scoring until the Wild pulled their goalie with a minute left in the game. Brett Cote cleared the puck out of his zone to Brett Hanson, who found the empty net for his third point of the game. A 3-1 final score, in spite of the Wild outshooting the Selects by 25 shots to 21. Brendan Edie was rock solid in net for the Selects, stopping 24 of the 25 shots.

* Selects next home game is TBD *

* Listen to the "Selects Report", every Monday at 5:20pm on AM 1250. Clayton Dreger, Sports Director at CHSM, gives a full report on the games and discusses current topics on Eastman Selects hockey. *