BANGOR—The Penobscot Pioneers make their debut postseason appearance this week, facing the combined Winslow/Gardiner Tigers on Friday at 5:00 in the Penobscot Ice Arena.

The Pioneers are the area’s first-ever all-girls ice hockey team that features players from Bangor High, as well as athletes from six other local schools: Brewer, Hampden, Hermon, John Bapst, Old Town, and Orono. 

“The playoffs are looking really good for us,” said senior captain Emma McNeil, one of two Bangor athletes on the Pioneers. “We definitely have a chance to win it all. To prepare we’re practicing hard and doing drills to get us ready for competition and we’re also preparing with the rest of our regular season games.”

With a high enough seed, the 14-3-1 Pioneers earned a bye and an automatic semi-final qualification.