The Swift Current Innovation Credit Union U18 AAA Wildcats opened their best-of-three playoff series against the Weyburn Gold Wings with a 6-2 win at S3 Arenas on Friday night.

Ashton Bender opened the scoring for Weyburn with 90 seconds left in the first period, then after Calla Kampen tied the game 1-1 with a goal 1:58 into the second, Paisley Arntsen scored at the 6:11 mark to give the Gold Wings the lead. The Wildcats pulled away with five unanswered goals in the third period from Sadie Keller, Olivia Kirwan, Ella Wingert, Addison Eurich and Kyla Benjamin, who added two assists for a three-point game. Kaylee Williams also added two helpers and Karlee Lehner made 19 saves as Swift Current outshot the Gold Wings 51-21.

The Wildcats can move on to the league semi-final with a win in game two on Sunday in Weyburn. Game three, if necessary, will be in Swift Current on Tuesday.