Griffins Triple Overtime Goal Forces Game Three Playoff Showdown

The RDC Queens and MacEwan Griffins women's hockey teams suited up for a matinee performance in game two of their semi-final playoff series. After a marathon double-overtime game the previous evening, the Queens were looking for a win on Saturday to secure the series and head to the ACAC championship.

Neither teams managed to score during regulation, and like the showdown from the night before, game two would need extra time to decide. After 60 minutes of regulation play the Queens had fired 40 shots on Griffins goalie Sandy Heim while MacEwan sent 29 towards RDC's netminder, Tracie Kikuchi.

The game went the distance, outlasting two periods of extra play. In the first overtime period the play was evenly matched, RDC Queens had four shots on net compared to the Griffins five. In the second overtime period MacEwan turned up the fire power and tallied 14 shots on goal compared to the Queens seven.

Finally, in the third period of overtime the MacEwan Griffins scored, forcing game three of the playoff series. Griffin's forward Chantal Ricker scored the game-winning and season-extending goal after 108:48 minutes of hockey. Final shots on goal saw 66 on the scoresheet for both teams.

Queens Hockey Head Coach Kelly Coulter noted the team's strong work ethic as a key factor in this series.

Heading into tomorrow night's game three Coulter notes that the game plan will be similar to the previous two games but the team "will need to capitalize on our power play chances and get to the net to find the rebounds."

Queens goaltender Tracie Kikuchi was the team's player of the game, stopping 65 shots.

The RDC Queens will host the third and final game of the playoff series tomorrow night in Red Deer, 6:00 p.m. puck drop at the Enmax Centrium. The winner will go on to play the either NAIT or SAIT in the ACAC Championships.