The Steinbach Regional Seconday School is perched on the top rung of the Winnipeg High School Hockey League's Free Press Division.

Avery Neufeld stopped all 26 shots he faced as the SRSS blanked Sanford 3-0 Wednesday afternoon at the T.G. Smith Centre in the hockey teams 22nd and final game of the regular season schedule.

“It was a solid defensive game,” said Sabres head coach Lawney Penner. “Avery did make a lot of nice saves but most of their shots came from the outside or from the point and we were able to shutdown their offense.”

Tyler Bueckert scored in the first period, Colton Unger added a shorthanded goal in the middle frame and Ryan Friesen potted a power play marker in the third.

The Sabres finished the regular season with 17 wins, three losses, an overtime win and an shootout loss.

“It's a good accomplishment,” said coach Penner of their first place finish. “To come from the first year when we only won seven games to finishing second last year and first this year – we feel like the program is going in the right direction.”

Steinbach Regional has a bye to the division quarterfinals which begin the week of February 22nd.

“There's a lot of parity in the league and come playoff time there's not going to be an easy night or an easy win,” Penner said. “But we believe that if we stick to the process and stick to our work ethic which we've had most of the year, we could have success.”