Three members of the Diamond Energy Female Midget AAA Wildcats played a part in a historic finish for Team Sask at the Female U18 National Championships.

Head coach Terry Pavely, forward Taylor Lind, and team captain Taylor Kirwan lost in the bronze medal game in overtime to Team British Columbia for a fourth-place finish, Team Sask's best ever finish in the tournament - dating back to 2005.

"I think we did pretty well, it's obviously amazing to make history," Lind said. "We haven't ever done that, I think we fit in pretty well out there."

Kirwan, who captained the team to their best finish, said a big reason for that was creating team chemistry quickly.

"It was easy to be captain on that team. Everybody clicked right away, just overall it was such a great experience because we became so close on and off the ice."

For Lind herself, she says the adjustment as one of the tournament's younger players proved difficult initially.

"I was obviously nervous going into it. but as soon as I got on the ice, the girls were great and welcoming, and I just felt at home," she said.

Her coach, Terry Pavely, was also quite pleased and says she adapted and responded to many different scenarios well.

"Taylor Lind filled a lot of different roles on our team. She was part of the top line at times, other times she played on the fourth line - whatever role she was asked to play," said Pavely. "She really worked hard, was responsible defensively, was good on the forecheck, and had some chances but just wasn't able to bury them."

"Both kids obviously made the Wildcats very proud, and as their coach, I was very pleased with the way they carried themselves on and off the ice and how they represented our organization," Pavely added.

Look no further for an example of that representation and character on and off the ice than Taylor Kirwan's award for being the Most Sportsmanlike Player of the tournament. 

"It's pretty amazing to know they actually thought of me when that award came up," the defenceman said. "Lots of girls probably deserved that award and I was just lucky to get it."

"It's an award based on kids with skill who play the game the right way - she's definitely one of those kids," Pavely added to the conversation of the modest Kirwan's award. "She was a big part of our team, and really was the anchor on our back end throughout the whole tournament."

Now that the trio of Wildcats are back in Saskatchewan and looking ahead to their first league game since October 22, both Taylors are looking forward to any and all match-ups against their Team Sask teammates.

"I'm probably looking forward to it more," Lind said. "It's always nice to have some girls that you know on the other team - as soon as it's over it's all fun and games."

"Yeah I'm looking forward to it, obviously we're all going to try to beat each other and win - we're all super competitive - but it will be a lot more fun on the ice," added Kirwan.

A match-up with a Team Sask teammate is already on the not-so-distant horizon. The Wildcats head to Wilcox tonight to face the Notre Dame Hounds, and Team Sask forward Jenna MacLean.

Notre Dame claimed a 1-0 overtime win in their first meeting of the season at Fairview West in a 37-save shutout performance by goaltender Kaitlyn Ross.

The Wildcats' head coach says not letting Notre Dame's goaltending get comfortable will be a huge key in the game.

"I think the more pucks we get on net early, then sometimes the goalie gets in that mindset that it's going to be a long night for them - if it's going to be a long night, then hopefully we can catch her with some good tip-ins and some good traffic," Pavely said. "For the most part with a good goaltender you've got to get in that crease area. It makes it difficult for her to see pucks, she's anticipating that pucks are going to get tipped, then she doesn't get set like she wants to."

You can listen to the Diamond Energy Wildcats and Notre Dame Hounds game live on The Eagle 94.1 with the pre-game show starting at 7:45 p.m., and puck drop at 8 p.m.