Queens earn a point, but Red Deer community wins at Pink in the Rink

Brent Forster - RDC

The lower bowl of the ENMAX Centrium featured a sea of pink on Thursday evening, as the Red Deer College Queens Hockey team hosted the MacEwan University Griffins in their second annual Pink in the Rink fundraiser in support of the accessible playground project at École Barrie Wilson Elementary School. After a tied first period, the teams traded goals in the final two periods. Two overtime periods solved nothing, and the Griffins eventually won 3-2 in the shootout. The RDC Queens earned one point in the standings.

Fan support was tremendous for the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Women's Hockey game. This year's attendance of 892 set a new ACAC Women's Hockey record and broke the Queens' record of 680 last season. Along with Scotiabank's matching grant, a total of $21,715 was raised for the accessible playground project.

Tracie Kikuchi was the starting goaltender for the Queens while Sandy Heim was in net for the Griffins. The RDC Queens were energized from the opening face-off. At 5:57 into the opening period, Catherine Longchamps put the Queens up 1-0 with a shot from the blueline. With traffic in front of Heim, the point shot snuck through the pads. Nicole Spinks picked up the assist. With 8:11 remaining in the first period, the Griffins' Amanda Murray tied the game 1-1. From the right side of the slot, Murray fired a hard wrist shot high on the glove side. After 20 minutes, MacEwan University outshot RDC 8-5.

The Griffins captured some momentum in the first 10 minutes of the second period but Kikuchi was sharp. With 3:08 remaining in the middle frame, it was the Queens who pulled ahead 2-1. Marisa Fraser shot from the left point and it eluded Heim. Kirsten Baumgardt and Nicole Spinks added the helpers. The MacEwan University Griffins outshot the RDC Queens 11-4 in the period.

At 2:18 into the third period, the Griffins tied the game 2-2. Raylene Emerson spotted Jordyn Reimer driving the net and Reimer redirected the pass into the left side of the cage. Both goaltenders were solid the remainder of the period and the teams headed to a 5 minute 4-on-4 overtime period. The Griffins outshot the Queens 15-3 in the third period. 

Kikuchi came up big 1:30 into overtime as she stopped a point blank shot from the slot. It was back and forth action, but neither team could break the deadlock, and the contest headed to a 5 minute 3-on-3 overtime period.

Both sides had some good opportunities to pick up the winning goal but the goalies were focused. Cassidy Anderson rushed up the right side of the ice, beat one defender but Heim halted her attempt. Time expired and the game headed to a shootout. Over regulation and overtime, MacEwan University tested Kikuchi 42 times while RDC fired 17 shots at Heim.

The goaltenders traded saves on the first shooters. The Griffins scored on their second attempt on a high backhand. The goalies were unbeatable on the remaining shooters and MacEwan University picked up the shootout win while the RDC Queens earned 1 point in the standings. 

Tracie Kikuchi was named the Queens player-of-the-game while Jordyn Reimer received the award for MacEwan University.

Queens Head Coach Kelly Coulter was happy to see the Queens creating traffic in front of Heim. "We scored by getting pucks to the net and taking the goalie's eyes away. MacEwan is a very good hockey team," said Coulter. "Once the game gets to overtime, anything can happen. We will take the point and learn some lessons from tonight's game. The goaltenders are very good in this league. We need to take their eyes away. I was happy to see that implemented into our game."

Looking to the rematch on Friday, Coulter would like to see more puck possession in the offensive zone. "We didn't generate enough shots tonight. I would like to see more offensive zone possession on Friday. Too many times we dumped pucks in, and they are very good at retrieving pucks, and moving pucks," said Coulter. "It's more about getting pucks in with soft chips and maintaining some offensive zone pressure. Any time teams have to defend, it makes it tough on them. That's something that we want to do better.  We want to fill three lanes in the neutral zone to take away their passing options, because they are a quick team. We want to be a bit better positionally every game."

The biggest winner on Thursday evening was the children and the accessible playground project at École Barrie Wilson Elementary School.

Supporting the accessible playground project is a great fit for the Red Deer College team. "Many student-athletes work with people with disabilities and we want to make sure that all kids have access to the same play areas," said Coulter. "The accessible playground project is a very worthy local cause that the Queens can go see for themselves, and they are very proud to be a part of it."

Kaely McMurtry, a fourth-year Bachelor of Education student, and the Queens see the need for the local accessible playground project. "This project is important because it's inclusive and collaborative," said McMurtry. "It will allow children who aren't able to play on a regular playground to still get out and participate."

"Community outreach is important to our student-athletes. From attending schools, to participating in reading programs, to lending a hand, to raising funds for local charities, our student-athletes are committed to making Red Deer and central Alberta a better community. This is the second year that Pink in the Rink has given back to the community that gives so much to them and Red Deer College," said Diane St-Denis, Athletic Director. "This year, RDC and Scotiabank chose to raise funds to help the École Barrie Wilson Elementary School accessible playground project. Providing accessible learning and physical activity space is important to Red Deer College, as it is one of the core design elements of RDC's new building."

The RDC Queens (4-2-2-0) will face the MacEwan University Griffins (4-0-1-0) in Edmonton on Friday, October 27 at 7:00 p.m.