The Blackfalds Wranglers inflicted all of their damage in the first period and defeated the host Three Hills Thrashers 4-1 during the weekend to win their best-of-seven Heritage Junior B Hockey League North Division semifinal 4-1.
Scoring first-period goals for the Wranglers were Dylan Wiedmer, Lucas Fraser, Jared Guilbault and Jared Williams. Matt Wildeman potted a power-play goal for the Thrashers 15 seconds into the third period but that was it for the hosts for the night and for the season.
Layne Swier made 34 saves for the Wranglers, who will face the upstart Mountainview Colts in the North final. Three Hills netminder Devon Dell made 34 saves.
The Colts punched their ticket to the North final by defeating the Red Deer Vipers 3-1 Saturday at the Arena. Braden Corbett scored a first-period goal for the Vipers, but the visitors got two second-period markers from Beau Jackson and one from Cody Krebs to win the best-of-seven semifinal 4-1.
Ethan Jemieff made 39 saves for the Colts, who fired 23 shots at Red Deer netminder Jarren Nickle.