Hockey Queens blank Trojans 1-0

The Red Deer College Queens Hockey team experienced a perfect 2-0 record last weekend against the Olds College Broncos and were looking to carry over their winning ways tonight at the ENMAX Centrium. Tonight's contest was the opening game of a home-and-home series against the SAIT Trojans. The RDC Queens eventually took advantage of a power play in the third period for a 1-0 victory.

Tracie Kikuchi started in goal for the RDC Queens while Emma Greenwood was in net for the Trojans. It was a defensive first half of the opening period with very few high quality chances at either end, but as the period progressed more scoring opportunities were generated.

With 8 minutes remaining in the first period, Teagan Borbandy fired a shot from the point and Kaci Jones tipped it just wide to the right of the Trojans net. Minutes later Jessica Anderson skated quickly up the right side and took a wrist shot from the circle that Greenwood directed into the corner. SAIT had their best chance to score on a power play late in the period but they hit the post to Kikuchi's right and the puck stayed out.

After 20 minutes of play the Queens had 7 shots on net while the Trojans directed 6 at Kikuchi.

The Trojans generated more zone time in the Queens end in the first 5 minutes of the middle period, but RDC responded as time progressed. It was another period with a low amount of great scoring chances.

Shots in the second period were 12 for the RDC Queens and 15 for SAIT.

The Queens came out hard in the early portion of final frame. Jessica Anderson had a great chance on a rebound from a shot on the left side but Greenwood kept it out. With 10:26 remaining, Ashley Graf gave her Queens a 1-0 lead on the power play. The Red Deer native beat Greenwood with a hard wrist shot to the stick side. Jessica Anderson and Kailey Butz picked up the assists.

Jade Petrie nearly put RDC up 2-0 as she carried the puck from her right to left across the slot and shot against the flow of traffic, but Greenwood made a nice glove save. SAIT called a time out with 44 seconds remaining. The Trojans pulled their goalie with over 20 seconds remaining but could not beat Kikuchi and the game ended 1-0 in favour of the Queens.

Queens Head Coach Kelly Coulter saw some positive aspects along with inconsistencies tonight.

"I was happy with our first period but sometimes players go on their own page and that really puts a wrinkle in our game," said Coulter. "It is difficult for us to be successful when that happens. In the second period we didn't execute our plan as a five man unit. Overall it was an OK third period. We started working a bit harder but SAIT made it a difficult victory for us to get tonight."

The young defence continues to grow and received praise from Coulter.

"The defence continues to improve," said Coulter. "I've been very happy with the progress with the defensive corps to date."

Kikuchi, from Edmonton, was chosen as the Queens player-of-the-game stopping all 28 shots, while Greenwood earned the honour for the Trojans.

Coulter was pleased with the play of the Kinesiology and Sport Studies student in the Queens net.

"Tracie did a great job in goal tonight," said Coulter. "She really held us in there at times when we were giving up too many scoring chances."

RDC had 9 shots while SAIT had 7 in the third period. Each team totalled 28 shots. The Trojans went 0-for-5 on the power play while the Queens were successful on 1-of-4 opportunities.