By Hockey Canada

SURREY, B.C. – Five-time champions Ontario Red climbed back up to the top of the standings Friday evening, beating low-ranked Saskatchewan 4-1 in a game that didn’t have a surprising outcome but was surprisingly competitive.

The players from the Prairies skated hard and fast to in an attempt to keep pace with the skilled Ontarian squad and for much of the game that’s exactly what they did, peppering netminder Erica Howe (Orleans, Ont.) with shots and showing determination until the very end.

Krista Funke (Regina, Sask.) was particularly impressive between the posts for Saskatchewan, making 46 saves and earning player of the game honours for her team. Howe made 24 saves on the night.

Ontario Red forward Hannah Armstrong (Sharon, Ont.) opened the scoring for her team midway through the first period, on passes from Jamie Lee Rattray (Kanata, Ont.) and Lauren Kelly (Milton, Ont.).

But despite tying up the game with a shorthanded goal by Shelby Nisbet (Dinsmore, Sask.) from Jessica Campbell (Melville, Sask.) a couple of minutes later, a win just wasn’t in the card for Saskatchewan.

Ontario Red’s Kelly Babstock (Mississauga, Ont.) secured a power play maker before the clock on the first ran down, while Jenna McParland (Schreiber, Ont.) followed up midway through the second to put her team up 3-1 by the end of that period.

Theadora Imbrogno (Etobicoke, Ont.) scored Ontario Red’s fourth and final goal of the night on another power play, with Lauren Kelly earning her second assist of the game and Hayleigh Cudmore (Oakville, Ont.) also contributing to the set-up.

Ontario moves on to the semi-finals Saturday, while Saskatchewan will try for its first win of the week and improvement in the standings during placement games earlier in the day.