Playoff action is ramping up for Swift Current's minor hockey teams.

The Innovation Federal Credit Union Wildcats start a first-round playoff series against the Battlefords Sharks on the road Saturday. Game two of the best-of-three series is Sunday at 6:30 p.m. from S3 Arenas. Game three, if necessary, will be in Battleford on Wednesday.

Other playoff action this weekend has the Full Line Ag U18 AA Wildcats visiting the Parkland Fire in Melville tonight with a chance to sweep their first-round series, while the Graphic Edge U15 Wildcats need a home win against the Parkland Fire to stay alive. 

The Southwest Sports Excellence U18 Broncos wrap up the regular season with two home games against Estevan, while the Pure Chem U15 Broncos start playoffs against the Regina Monarchs tomorrow in Gull Lake. 

In junior female hockey, the Southwest CMX Impact take on the Lumsden Lynx in the quarter-final of the SJFHL championship weekend in Outlook tonight. The inaugural league champion will be crowned on Sunday.

Colts and Ardens split basketball semi-final games

Danica Jackson had 15 points as the Comp High School Ardens basketball team defeated Peacock 86-37 in the Moose Jaw League semi-final on their home floor Thursday night. 

Meanwhile, the Colts dropped a 94-81 decision to Peacock in their league semi-final. Eli Siemens had 20 points for the Colts in the loss.

Saskatchewan set for playoff action at Brier

Mike McEwen and Team Saskatchewan wrapped up round-robin play at the Montana’s Brier in Regina with a 7-6 win over Quebec on Thursday. 

Saskatchewan finishes first in Pool B with a 7-1 record and will face Brendan Bottcher and Team Alberta in a 1 vs. 2 Page Playoff qualifier this afternoon. Manitoba’s Reid Carruthers takes on defending champion Brad Gushue in the other qualifier this afternoon. The winners go to the 1 vs. 2 game Saturday night while Jamie Koe and Matt Dunstone will play the losers tonight to set up the 3 vs. 4 game.

Rush return to Buffalo tonight in NLL action

The Saskatchewan Rush will make a trip to upstate New York for a rare visit with the Buffalo Bandits tonight at KeyBank Center. The Rush, who have won three of their last four games, will play in Buffalo for the first time since March of 2018, and the game is a rematch of the 2016 NLL Championship series won by the Rush in their first season in Saskatoon.

The Rush return home next Saturday to host the New York Riptide for the final time after the league announced the franchise based on Long Island would relocate to Ottawa for the upcoming season.

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