By Jeff D'Andrea

Team Lakeland with strong and loud Bears connection

Feb 19, 2014 | 9:21 PM

It was pretty easy to decipher which of the three Team Lakeland players are representing the Prince Albert A&W Bears at this year’s Saskatchewan Winter Games—and it wasn’t just their flashy orange mitts that gave them away.

Defenders Brook Hobson, Cassidy Carlson and forward Ireland South drew a huge cheer every time they did just about anything out of the ice from their loud and loyal Bears teammates, who sat in the far corner at the Dave G. Steuart Arena Wednesday and were by far the loudest Team Lakeland supporters.

The Bears, accompanied by some various levels of PA Foxes teams, oohed and aahed while Hobson went on electrifying end-to-end rushes and scored the lone goal in Lakeland’s 4-1 loss to Team South East.

The ‘black and orange’ faithful encouraged South when she engaged on the forecheck and cycled the puck and created chances.

They hooted and hollered when Carlson hammed up to the Bears’ corner with a smiling wave or a glass tap during stoppages of play—which reoccurred throughout the night.

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Carlson said she tried to keep things light throughout the game, while having a little fun with her Bears teammates.

“If you keep a good attitude, then it just helps everyone else,” said Carlson, the 13-year-old from Air Ronge. “It’s gets everyone’s game up, makes everyone happy and keeps them going.”

Of course, having the two Bears on her team is a treat for Carlson as well, who played the majority of Wednesday’s game as Hobson’s D-partner.

“It’s good to know some girls as well, it helps out because you know how they play,” said Carlson. “I’ve played with some of the other girls as well, it just helps out a lot.

South East 4 Lakeland 1

After a scoreless first, both teams traded goals to start the second period before South East scored three unanswered goals to take a 4-1 score.

“The first game is hard because we haven’t practiced or anything,” said Carlson. “We just have to keep a good attitude and play as hard as we can.”

Team Lakeland will play Team Prairie Central at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the Dave G. Steuart Arena for their second of three group stage games. Their last pool game is Friday at 11:30 a.m. against Saskatoon.

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea