Broncos shade Queens in Olds

Brent Forster - RDC

Olds, AB –As the Olds College Broncos hosted their Pink in the Rink event on Thursday evening, the Queens held a 2 – 1 lead in the second period but the Broncos stormed back to earn a 3 – 2 home win.

Even though an energized Broncos team was playing in front of their fans on a special evening, it was RDC's Veronika Bucifalova who tallied first. The gifted forward from the Czech Republic buried a shot past Broncos goaltender Victoria Eilers at 17:20 of the first period. Catherine Longchamps picked up the lone assist.

Thirty-six seconds in to the middle frame, Bree Edwards, of the Broncos, beat Queens goaltender Miranda Cook to even the contest 1 – 1. Less than six minutes later, Kaely McMurtry and Kirsten Baumgardt set up Bucifalova on the power play for her second of the game, providing a one goal margin.

Early in the third period, the Broncos tied the game 2 – 2. Bree Edwards scored 15 seconds into the frame for the equalizer. As time was winding down in the period, Jesse Jack gave the Broncos a 3 – 2 lead with 55 seconds remaining, and that held up as the game winner.

Queens Hockey Head Coach Kelly Coulter didn't see a consistent work ethic. "We were outworked tonight and made too many errors, forcing pucks into traffic," he says. "We didn't execute and stick to our game plan."

Mariah McKersie was selected as the Queens Player-of-the-Game and Jesse Jack was chosen for the Broncos.

Mariah McKersie (Photo - Tony Hansen)

Both teams have collaborated in a joint fundraising effort to support the Central Alberta Cancer Centre. The RDC Queens (1 – 2) will host the Olds College Broncos (1 – 1 – 1 OTL) on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. for Pink in the Rink at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.