Queens defeat Ooks 5-2, move into first

In their final regular season game of 2016, the Red Deer College Queens Hockey team played host to the NAIT Ooks at the ENMAX Centrium. After the Queens scored first, they showed great energy, set the pace and skated to a 5-2 win.

It's always nice to pick up a win, but tonight's victory seemed a bit sweeter. With the win, the Queens jump into first place in ACAC Women's Hockey, defeat a tough ACAC rival and cap off 2016 with a victory. The RDC Queens looked like a first place team all night and made a statement moving into the second half of the season.

Tracie Kikuchi started in goal for the Queens while Alyssa Moyer was in net for the Ooks. It was a cautious start from both teams with few high quality chances. Seven minutes into the first period, Cassidy Anderson pinched in from her defensive position and sent a high backhand on goal that Moyer stopped. With 8:51 left in the first period, Jessica Anderson kept a NAIT clearing attempt inside the blueline and fired a low shot on goal. Julia Murrell redirected the shot between Moyer's pads to open the scoring shorthanded.

After 20 minutes of play the Queens had 8 shots on goal while the Ooks tested Kikuchi 10 times.

On a power play at 5:28 into the second period, NAIT tied the game 1-1 on a deflection from Jordyn Tibbatts. The Queens had the majority of the play in the second period and with 10:45 remaining Emily Swier sent a pass out front to Ashley Graf who beat Moyer on the glove side to put the Queens up 2-1. Landry Derdall picked up the additional assist.

With 8:50 remaining, Ashley Graf broke out of the Queens zone and sent a cross ice pass to Jade Petrie on the right side. On a 2-on-1, Petrie found Emily Swier in the slot who tucked the backhand in behind Moyer. NAIT responded when Carlin Boey narrowed the lead 3-2 with 7:44 left in the middle frame. The Queens got back onto the board at 14:58 when Julia Wing blasted a shot from the point and beat Moyer to push the Queens lead to 4-2. Julia Murrell picked up the assist. After the goal, Karlee Fetch replaced Moyer in net.

In the second period, the RDC Queens had 11 shots on goal while the NAIT Ooks tested Kikuchi 10 times.

In the third period, the Queens continued to apply pressure and with 7 seconds remaining Jade Petrie scored unassisted into the empty net for the 5-2 victory. The Queens did a nice job of keeping their foot on the gas and not sitting back. Each side had 11 shots in the third period. Kikuchi was solid in net stopping 29-of-31 shots.

Queens Head Coach Kelly Coulter was pleased with the effort and result tonight.

"I was happy with the game tonight. NAIT is a good team so we had to be prepared to play them. The players were solid all the way through, managed the puck well and did a nice job in the defensive zone, stopping and not running around as much against a very skilled hockey team," said Coulter. "We had to make sure that we kept putting pressure on them. We wanted to make it hard for NAIT to get their speed up on their breakouts."

Consistency and communication were positive factors tonight.

"One thing we constantly strive for is the players to understand to talk on the ice - communicate and watch what their teammate's tendencies are and how they play," said Coulter. "It was important for us to stick to a 60 minute game plan and we did that tonight. It is nice to see that happen right when we go into the break."

Emily Swier, a Management Certificate student, was named the Queens player-of-the-game. Swier was happy with the team's ability to rebound from the weekend and pick up the win.

"It's important for us to go into the break on a positive note especially after the game we played on Saturday," said Swier.

After exams, the break will be important to rest after a hectic finish to the schedule.

"After this weekend we will get quite a bit of a break which is nice. I'm really just planning on spending time with family. Mostly relax," said Swier. "Right now everyone is feeling it with finals coming up, the end of the first half of the season and the number of games we've played in the last 5 or 6 days. Everyone is definitely a little tired."

With the win, the Queens sit in top spot in ACAC Women's Hockey with 20 points. NAIT ends 2016 in second place with 18 points and the MacEwan Griffins are in third with 16 points.

Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017 the first place Queens are back in action at the ENMAX Centrium when they face the SAIT Trojans at 7:00 p.m.