The following are minor hockey dispatches for the Highland Storm and the Jets.

The Parkview Dental/Canadian Tire Bantam Girls Jets beat the Ennismore Eagles on Sunday Feb. 26 afternoon in Bancrfot. The game was fast paced with both teams exchanging chances at both ends of the rink.
Early in the first period of the game Haley Goulet started off the scoring with a top right corner shot assisted by Mackala O’Connor. The Eagles evened the score with 48 seconds on the clock to end the first 1-1. Ennismore scored again early into the second period taking the lead over the Jets. Despite all of their efforts the girls were unable to put one past the Eagles goalie and were scoreless throughout the second. Ennismore edged ahead making it a 2-1 game.
Determined and wanting the win the Jets persevered and added two to the scoreboard halfway through the third. Kennedy Croskery scored assisted by Paige Billings and Beth Brownlee scored with a back handed goal assisted by Marissa Cannon. It was now 3-2 in favour of the Jets. Both teams continued to skate and work hard but it was Ennismore who would score to tie the game 3-3. With the crowd on the edge of their seats with two minutes left Hannah McMann pumped a top left corner shot into the net securing a Jets’ win. Cannon assisted on the goal. Final score Jets 4 Eagles 3. Courtney Semach had a solid game in net for the Jets.
The team will play on home ice this Thursday at 7 p.m. against the Peterborough Ice Kats. The weekend will see the Jets play back-to-back games against first place Otonabee Wolverines. On Saturday the team travels to Keene for a game at 7 p.m. and will play their first place rivals again at home on Sunday at the NHCC at 4:30 p.m. Go Jets Go!
Submtted by Linda Goulet

The Bancroft I.D.A. / Red Eagle Family Campground midget B girls Jets team hosted the Cold Creek Comets on Saturday afternoon in Bancroft in their continued bid to get to the All-Ontario Provincial Championship.
Bancroft needed a “must win” to even their record with the Comets to a win each in their round robin provincial playdowns. The Jets came out flying and pressured Cold Creek from the opening face-off. Bancroft’s attack led to the opening goal midway through the first period where Katie Funk’s wrister assisted by Jules Croskery beat the Comet tender high glove.
The 1 – 0 lead sparked the Jets and late in the first period Croskery finished off a focused and hard-working shift with line-mates Shpikula and Funk to give Bancroft a 2 – 0 lead. Bancroft finished up the second period with their third unanswered goal when Danielle Sunstrum tucked the puck home with just 19 seconds left in the frame assisted by Little and Marsden. The Jets kept their focus including Katie Hoover’s clutch efforts to help secure the 3 – 0 shutout win.  The “must win” keeps the Jets’ provincial hopes alive.
Bancroft wrapped up their provincial playdowns in Cobourg Sunday night against the Northumberland Wild. The Jets needed a win to try and secure their bid for the All-Ontario Championships in April.
Jamie Little put the Wild on their heels early when she tucked home a short side beauty on the first shift of the game to give Bancroft a 1 – 0 lead. The Wild tied the game late in the first. The Jets continued their team-focused pressured attack and took the lead back with Little’s (second snipe) one-timer off the post from Marsden. The Wild never quit and found another equalizing goal early in the second period tipping a shot into the net for a 2 – 2 tie. Both teams battled and pressured the rest of the game to try and find that next goal. Midway through the third period Tori Shpikula scored the game winning 3 – 2 goal when she beat the Wild tender  off a dandy dish from Katie Funk. The Jets finished their provincial playdowns on a five-game winning streak and a goal differential of plus-seven against Cold Creek. Bancroft waits to see the outcome between the Wild and the Comets to determine their entry into the All-Ontario Provincial Championship in April.
Great team “play-offs” effort girls! Keep the focus as we take on Keene in our second round of our League Finals Thursday night on the round in game one.
Game two is Saturday night March 4 at 5 pm in Bancroft. Game three – if needed – will be Sunday afternoon March 5 in Bancroft at 2 p.m.
Submitted by Dan Marsden

On Friday Feb. 24 the Haliburton Timber Mart / Canadian Tire Highland Storm Novice team travelled to Wasaga Beach to take on the Stars in game one of the All-Ontario semi-finals. The Storm were slow to get going but managed to play even with the Stars for the first period. But shortly into the second the Stars began to dominate the game. The Storm were unable to respond and were kept off the scoreboard. They dropped the opening game of the series.
On Saturday Feb. 25 the novices hosted the Wasaga Beach Stars for the second playoff game.  The Storm skated much better this game. Jace Mills scored the first goal of the game giving the Storm an early lead. The Stars responded tying the game 1-1.  Brechin Johnston scored another goal for the Storm with an assist by Caleb Manning giving the Storm the lead. It was end-to-end action for three periods. The Stars took the lead late in the second period. The Storm dropped game two to Wasaga Beach 6-2 and were put in a must win situation for Sunday.
The novice team travelled back to Wasaga Beach on Sunday Feb. 26 for game three of the playoff series. The Storm came out strong and were relentless in their pursuit of the puck in both ends.  Solid defense and excellent goaltending by Chase Winder kept the Storm in tight with the Stars. The Storm put forth their best team performance of this series but unfortunately could not contain the Stars’ fire power.  A late goal by Johnston brought the Storm closer. However the Storm lost their final playoff game 3-1.
Congratulations to the novices on making it to the All Ontario semi-finals. All players should be extremely proud of their hardwork and dedication. It was a privilege to watch these boys improve and develop as a team throughout the season. You made us all proud. To coaches: Darryl Winder Greg Scheffee Jamie Johnston and Justin Rowden – thank you for all your time and dedication.  To our manager Amanda Manning – a huge thank you for all the time spent planning and organizing team events.  It was a wonderful season be proud of your accomplishments. The novice team members are:  Brady Burtch Liam Harrison Brechin Johnston Evan Jones Austin Latanville Caleb Manning Jace Mills MacLean Rowden Josh Scheffee Parker Simms and Chase Winder.
Submitted by Janice Scheffee

Peewees battle but season ends
On Friday Feb. 25th  the JoAnne Sharpley’s Source for sports/Haliburton Family Medical Centre Peewees hosted the Penetang Flames in game two of the series. With the Storm down 1-0 in the series they were looking to tie it up.   The first period saw both teams battle back and forth with Darian Maddock keeping his team in the game. The first period ended with no score. The second period the Flames of Penetanguishene scored  to put them ahead 1-0 going into the third. The Flames scored again half way through the third to put them up 2-0. The Storm tried everything they could pulling the goalie to try to get back into the game but the Flames netted an empty netter. With the goalie back in the Storm took a rush back to the Penetangs’ net. Kyan Hall scored assisted by Colin Glecoff and Dylan Keefer.  With less than a minute  left in the game the Storm pulled the goalie again trying everything they could with every last second left but fell short. So when the final buzzer rang the Storm lost 3-1.
Submitted by Ron Hall

After having a weekend off of hockey the Leveque Brothers / Rock Breakers Peewee girls travelled to Cobourg Friday night to take on the West Northumberland Wild.  The Jets picked up where they left off and dominated the game keeping the play in the Wilds’ end. The Jets picked up the two points with a 6-0 victory. Goals were scored by Peyton Armstrong three Emma Tidey two and Ava Smith. Assist going to Chloe Billings.
On Saturday the girls were in Otonabee to take on the Wolverines. The girls skated hard and made some great passing plays to defeat Otonabee 3-0. Goals scored by Trista Young Billings and Ryan Rupnow. Assists going to Armstrong (2) Mackenzie Hudder Tidey and Billings.
On Sunday the girls played at home taking on their division rivals the Peterborough Ice Kats. In what was proving to be a great game the girls finally opened the scoring early in the second period by a squeaker scored by Armstrong and assisted by M. Hudder.  With only a one goal lead going into the third the fans were on the edge of their seat until late in the third Emma Tidey unassisted scored the insurance goal. Armstrong potted one more before the period ended assisted by Hailey Hudder to give the girls the 3-0 and important win over the Ice Kats.  Bella Smolen turned away all shots she faced on the weekend for her fourth shutout of the Playdowns.
Come cheer on the girls as they take on the Ennismore Eagles at home in Bancroft Saturday March 4th at 4 p.m.
Submitted by Melissa Armstrong