The 2008-2009 season began with much the same team but some differences.  All but one of the Prairie Fire skaters returned to play.  The two coaches were back too.

 

There were some important changes.  With Dani Sykes being in doubt in the off-season, the Fire were able to obtain Elise Crocker to help out in goal.  AA coach Rick Montsion joined the coaching staff.  As a slightly retooled organization, Prairie Fire embarked on the season.  The team was very competitive in the early going but still dropped some close games.  They arrived in Saskatoon for the final weekend of the season as a much-improved team, which still was unlikely to qualify for Nationals since the West had been reduced to three representatives from five.

 

The Manitoba Jets had been the nemesis for Prairie Fire.  From March 2007, Jets had won eight games and tied one in nine games versus the Prairie Fire.  In December 2008, Prairie Fire took a shootout victory over Jets.  The remaining two games were split.  The Fire arrived in Saskatoon still trailing Jets and needing a miraculous finish to qualify for Nationals.  As things played out, Prairie Fire had a strong weekend taking four wins and losing a shootout to RATH.  Jets did not fare well with only one victory and a shootout loss. The end result was the Prairie Fire finished third and qualified to go to Charlottetown. 

 

In Charlottetown, Prairie Fire showed they belonged. They beat WAM! and gave Cambridge a hard game. They found a few more legs were needed for a week of such high level competition.  Despite a disappointing finish to the week in Charlottetown, the players are looking forward to the 2009-2010 season.