Regular league play has ended in the Northern Central Minor Hockey Association and teams have been matched up for the playoff season.
In the last weekend of the regular league play, Ponoka and Maskwacis minor hockey teams brought mixed results.
Ponoka Atom A lost to Sundre 4-3 on home ice on Sunday Feb. 23 with the scores for the local side coming from Braeden Brouilette, Gavin Allen and Alex Brackenburg. Ponoka Atom a will play their first game of the playoffs against Eckville on Saturday, March 1.
Maskwacis Atom Chiefs lost 9-1 to Thunderstars at home on Friday, Feb. 21 with the only point for the Chiefs scored by Kihew Lee. On Saturday they lost 7-5 to Red Deer Phone Experts in an away game. Jayden Crane, Jason Makinaw, Kihew Lee scored one each and Damian Omeasoo added two to the tally. On Unday Chiefs lost to Rimbey 1-0.
Ponoka Bantam Stampeders dealt a heavy 8-0 blow to Castor Cyclones on Sunday in a home game with Joshua Vold scoring half of the points, Lewis McDowell managing a hat-trick and Rian van der Westhuizen putting the additional number on the scoreboard. Bantam Ponoka is tied with Castor also for their first playoff series.
Maskwacis Bantam B Chiefs lost to Thunderstars 7-3 in away game on Saturday Feb. 22 with the scores for Maskwacis side coming from Pierce Cutarm, Skye Cutarm and Shawn Applegarth.
Midget A Wolves lost to Red Deer Kings in an away game on Saturday, Feb. 22 with the only point for the local side coming from Tyson Matejka. Wolves are tied with Stettler Legion in their first playoff series.
Ponoka Midget B Stampeders played three games over the weekend. In their first away game on Friday, Feb 21, they defeated West Country Chiefs 8-4 with the points coming from Jarret Henderson (2), Owen Leighton, Braeden Korchiski (2), James Lee, Adam Rowland and Shawn Wilton. The next day, they lost to Eckville 6-2 at home with Ethan Deuck and Braeden Korchiski scoring the goals. On Sunday, Ponoka boys won 9-1 over Red Deer Lodge. Scorers were Shawn Wilton (2), Jarret Henderson (2), Pierre Clemmer, Lane Jones, Braeden Korchiski, Ethan Deuck and James Lea.
Maskwacis Midget A beat Lacombe 4-3 in an away game on Saturday, Feb. 23. Scores came from Ignatius Cattleman, Nolan Lightning and Keeyan Swampy. The following day Chiefs thrashed Rimbey Renegades with a score of 9-2.
In female categories, Lacoka Bantam girls tied 3-3 with Stettler in an away game on Saturday while Midget Lacoka girls tied 2-2 with Warburg Wolves on the same day, but beat Tofield Titans 5-2 the next day in an away game.