The Innovation Credit Union U18 AAA Wildcats rebounded from an early-morning loss to open the Mandi Schwartz Memorial Tournament with a 5-3 win over the Winnipeg Avros in Milestone Thursday night.

Caitlyn Perlinger opened the scoring for the Wildcats 4:05 into the game, but Elizabeth Bird and Vanessa Moreira scored for Winnipeg to put them up 2-1 after 20 minutes. Swift Current then picked up three unanswered goals from Addison Eurich, Tess Bakus and Sadie Keller to go up 4-1 midway through the second period. Ella Speechley scored late in the second to cut Winnipeg's deficit to 4-2 after 40 minutes, then Jerzey Watteyne sealed the victory for Wildcats with a goal midway through the third period.

Watteyne and Keller added two assists and Eurich and Perlinger also had helpers. Paige Fischer made 31 saves as Winnipeg outshot Swift Current 34-31.

The Wildcats take a 1-1 record into their final round-robin game against the South Alberta Hockey Academy this afternoon at 1:00pm in Wilcox.