Bears season ends with loss to Saskatoon Stars
Dave Leaderhouse
March 13, 2026
Special to the Herald
The Prince Albert Mann Northway Northern Bears had their Saskatchewan Female U18AAA Hockey League season come to an end on Tuesday, but there is plenty of optimism for the future.
“The girls are obviously disappointed, but when you look at the big picture they came a long way this season,” explained Bears’ head coach Steve Young following a heartbreaking 2-0 loss to the defending champion Saskatoon Stars in the opening round of the playoffs. “Last night (Tuesday) was like the whole series; pucks rolled through the crease and we hit some posts. Saskatoon was just able to bury their chances.”
Prince Albert opened the best-of-three quarter-final series with a 3-2 triumph in Saskatoon and they had a chance to sweep the series at home, but a 3-2 loss in overtime forced Tuesday’s deciding game.
Presley Oleksyn staked the Stars to a 1-0 advantage late in the first period on Tuesday and Danelle Steffen put the game out of reach with a power-play marker as time was running out to propel Saskatoon into the semi-finals where they will now face the regular-season champion Battlefords Sharks.
Avery Brunen was spectacular in the Prince Albert goal turning aside 35 of 37 shots she faced while the Bears directed 34 shots at Tarynn Sutter in the Stars’ goal.
The Bears were slow out of the gate losing six of their first seven games to open the regular season, but an eight-game winning streak at the end of the year put the club in fifth place to set up the showdown with Saskatoon. Young says there are a number of reasons for the roller-coaster season.
“We had 10 or 11 new faces to start the year and it took time for them to come together,” says Young. “As the season went along they bought in and we put wins together. Winning gives you confidence.”
Young says that the turnover for next year should not be as severe as just Addison Davidge, Aidyn Konechny, Gracie Reed, Kasey Marshall and Maggie Schell are all aging out and while he hopes the rest of the team returns he understands some surprises could happen.
“Traditionally you hope those that can return do return, but some might take a different path,” said Young. “With the program we have here hopefully that draws them back.”
Among the key returnees are Brunen and Jersie Andersen with Brunen posting seven wins in 15 starts, including three shutouts, while Andersen had 17 goals and 20 assists to finish tied for second place in the league scoring race, just one point back of Anneka Aspaas of the Battlefords.
The Bears will begin work for next year when they host their annual spring camp on April 16-17. Young hopes the positive energy gained from the final stretch of the regular season and the solid play shown in the post-season will continue with an exciting camp.
“With the nucleus we have coming back we hope we can carry on where we left off,” said Young.
