The Eastman Selects and Saskatoon Stars meet this weekend at the T.G. Smith Centre in Steinbach with a spot at the 2018 Esso Cup in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia on the line.

"The girls are ready and everybody is excited," said Eastman head coach Bill Bram. "I think there's going to be a lot of people coming just to cheer us on. The support from everybody - the emails and texts, the congratulations - it's kind of overwhelming."

The Selects captured their first Manitoba Female AAA Midget Hockey League title last week in Ste. Anne when Kylie Lesuk scored in double overtime to lift Eastman past the Pembina Valley Hawks 3-2 in game four of the best-of-five final.

Eastman will face a Stars team that lost just three times in regulation during the regular season schedule and then reeled off six straight wins in the playoffs sweeping both the Regina Rebels and Prince Albert Northern Bears to win the Saskatchewan championship.

"They're a big team," said coach Bram. "They move the puck well. They've got very good defensemen and a very good goalie. Their goaltender, the game I watched, she stood on her head. I think it's going to be an excellent battle with two good goalies going up against each other."

Bram adds it's huge that they have home ice advantage and don't have to jump on the bus and head west for the regionals this weekend.

"We're in the comfort zone. We're not sleeping in hotels. All the stars are aligned. The kids are ready. We're all excited. I think it's going to be a great series."

Game one of the best-of-three Esso Cup West Regional is Friday at 3 p.m. at the T.G. Smith Centre with game two scheduled for Saturday at 5 p.m.

If a third and deciding game is necessary it will take place Sunday with puck drop at 12:30 p.m.


photo courtesy Zachary Peters, ZJP Photography