Hockey Queens edged by NAIT in home opener

Thursday, the Red Deer College Queens Hockey team celebrated last season's success and raised their championship banner in front of their home fans at the Enmax Centrium. Focus then shifted to this game, which opened up the 2016-2017 ACAC Women's Hockey season against a familiar opponent, the NAIT Ooks. 

While the Queens had a 2-1 lead late in the game, NAIT scored twice with 1:16 remaining to take the season opener 3-2. The RDC Queens controlled most of the play, especially in the second half of the game.

Red Deer native Jen West got the start in goal for the Queens while Alyssa Moyer started for NAIT. The Ooks opened the scoring on a goal by Alica Mihalikova 1:31 into the 1st period.

NAIT received the first power play opportunity as the Queens served two minutes for cross-checking. The Ooks had a great opportunity to increase their lead but West made a nice glove save on the penalty kill keeping RDC in the game.

While the Ooks had the better chances in the first six minutes, the Queens swayed momentum in their favour. RDC had a couple of two-on-one opportunities but couldn't beat Moyer. The Queens made some long passes from their own zone, catching NAIT's defense off guard but couldn't capitalize.

The Ooks got called for interference with 9:05 left in the opening period and the Queens pushed to tie the contest. Jade Petrie set up Ashley Graf in front of the net but was stopped on the backhand. Moments later Julia Murrell shot high on the blocker side but Moyer stopped a piece of it, sending the puck over the net.

The opening frame ended with NAIT outshooting the Queens 12 to 8.

One minute thirty seconds into the middle period NAIT had a two-on-one opportunity but West made a nice pad save. Momentum swung back and forth in the early part of the 2nd period.

Halfway through the game Queens forward Ashley Graf attempted to tie the game on the wrap around attempt but was stopped.

On the power play with about 8 minutes remaining the Queens broke out of their zone quickly with a stretch pass to Petrie on the right side. As an Ooks defender enclosed in on her she sent Morgan Fraser in alone but was stopped on the backhand.

The RDC Queens continued to push forward and were rewarded on the power play with 6:12 left in the 2nd period. Bachelor of Science student Becky Davidson deflected a Cassidy Anderson shot from the point to tie the game 1-1. Rikki Smith picked up the other assist.

The Queens took a 2-1 lead on the power play with 4:34 remaining when Graf tried to centre the puck but it hit Moyer's feet and trickled in the net. Petrie provided a distraction in front of Moyer. Julia Wing and Kailey Butz picked up the assists.

The RDC Queens outshot NAIT 17 to 15 in the middle period.

The Queens controlled most of the play and hemmed NAIT in their own zone for much of the 3rd period. 

But NAIT tied the game with 1:16 remaining in the 3rd period on a power play goal by Vercha Kuzelova, who pounced on a loose puck. With 30 seconds left NAIT took a 3-2 lead on a hard shot from Hannah Fouillard from the point.

Head Coach Kelly Coulter was not pleased with the start and finish from his team.

"Our first two minutes were not good and our last two minutes were not good," said Coulter. "Hockey is a sixty minute game. We have to improve at managing the puck, being more efficient at moving the puck and defending a lead."

Shots in the 3rd period were 8 for RDC and 10 for NAIT. The Queens scored on two of their four power play opportunities while the Ooks scored on one of their five advantages.

Jade Petrie was named the player-of-game for the RDC Queens, skating hard and creating several offensive chances.

The Queens play in Edmonton Friday, Oct. 7 at 7:00 p.m. against NAIT in a weekend rematch. Mark Thursday, Oct. 20 on your calendar as the RDC Queens host "Pink in the Rink" at 7:00 p.m. at the Enmax Centrium, helping to raise funds to fight women's cancer. There are some fantastic prizes that could be yours just by wearing pink.