It’s not quite midnight in eastern Manitoba, so the Cinderella Selects play on. Eastman, which finished under .500 in the regular season before winning its first MFMHL championship, takes on the veteran-laden Saskatoon Stars for the right to represent the West Region at the Esso Cup.

The Selects knocked off the No. 1, 2 and 4 teams in Manitoba to go where they’ve never been before. That’s certainly not the case with the Stars, who have nine players on their roster who competed at Canada’s National Female Midget Championship in 2016 and five who were there in 2015 as well.

Saskatoon is paced by the trio of Mackenna Parker, Anna Leschyshyn and Grace Shirley, who finished one-two-four in SFMAAAHL scoring, while the Selects rely more on the defensive side of the puck; goaltender Raygan Kirk fashioned a ridiculous 0.77 goals-against average and .978 save percentage in the MFMHL playoffs.

RECENT CHAMPIONS (ESSO CUP FINISH)
2017 – Prince Albert Bears (fifth place)
2016 – Saskatoon Stars (fourth place)
2015 (SK) – Saskatoon Stars (bronze medal)
2015 (MB) – Central Plains Capitals (fourth place)
2014 – Weyburn Gold Wings (gold medal)
2013 – Regina Rebels (fourth place)

EASTMAN SELECTS
MFMHL CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 13-12-5 (5th in MFMHL)
Goals for: 70
Goals against: 72
Leading scorer: Kylie Lesuk (12G 10A 22P)

Playoff record: 9-2
Goals for: 21
Goals against: 13
Leading scorer: Kylie Lesuk (3G 7A 10P)

ROAD TO THE WEST REGIONAL
Quarter-final: defeated Yellowhead 3-0 (1-0, 2-1 2OT, 2-1 OT)
Semifinal: defeated Winnipeg 3-1 (2-0, 2-1, 1-2, 3-2 OT)
MFMHL championship: defeated Pembina Valley 3-1 (1-3, 2-0, 2-1 3OT, 3-2 2OT)

Last national championship appearance: none
Total national championship appearances: none

SASKATOON STARS
SFMAAAHL CHAMPIONS

Regular season record: 24-3-1 (1st in SFMAAAHL)
Goals for: 134
Goals against: 50
Leading scorer: Mackenna Parker (33G 27A 60P)

Playoff record: 6-0
Goals for: 25
Goals against: 8
Leading scorer: Anna Leschyshyn (4G 8A 12P)

ROAD TO THE WEST REGIONAL
Semifinal: defeated Regina 3-0 (6-0, 5-1, 3-1)
SFMAAAHL championship: defeated Prince Albert 3-0 (5-3, 4-2, 2-1)

Last national championship appearance: 2016 (fourth place)
Total national championship appearances: 2 (2015, 2016)