Longchamps strikes in overtime, Queens down Ooks as Make Some Noise for Mental Health is highlighted

Brent Forster - RDC

Red Deer, AB - The Red Deer College Queens and NAIT Ooks were deadlocked after sixty minutes but the Queens stuck with their game plan, eventually connecting in overtime to seal a 3-2 home victory.

Both goaltenders, Miranda Cook and Kaitlyn Slator shut the door in the first period.

Miranda Cook (31) Colby Brochu Photography

Julia Wing scored on the power play in the second to give the Ooks an edge at 3:50. Then Queens' forward Camryn Wallan took over. At 7:12, the Bachelor of Education Elementary student beat Slator after being set up by Kaely McMurtry and Ashley Sutherland. Just over 10 minutes later, Wallan scored her second of the frame to provide RDC a 2-1 lead. Mariah McKersie had the lone assist.

With 7:45 left in the third, NAIT's Megan Leblanc found the back of the net to knot the contest 2-2, eventually sending the game to four-on-four overtime.

As the first five minutes of overtime was winding down, Queens' defenceman Catherine Longchamps found herself on a breakaway. The talented second-year from Deux-Montagnes, Quebec made no mistake, scoring high on Slator's blocker side with only 24.2 seconds left, helping the Queens earn a 3-2 home win.  

Colby Brochu Photography

Queens Head Coach Kelly Coulter was proud of the consistent effort. "Overall I thought that it was one of our better 60 minute games all the way through. All 19 players contributed, which is nice," he says. "When they buy in and are very coachable, they are a very good hockey team. From Miranda's play out, I thought that every player helped us succeed tonight. It was a very good victory for our team to show them that on any given night any team can be beaten if you are willing to work hard for 60 full minutes, plus overtime tonight."

Colby Brochu Photography

The RDC Queens were without the services of two defenders due to injuries. "Shelby Ballan hasn't played all year for us and has been shut down by our doctors. She is still recovering from her knee surgery," says Coulter. "Mairead Bast is day-to-day, still nursing an injury that has been nagging at her for quite some time. Rest is best."

Catherine Longchamps was selected as the Queens Player-of-the-Game, with the well-executed overtime winner.  Julia Wing earned the honour for the Ooks, recording the opening goal.

Miranda Cook was sharp in net, stopping 28 out of 30 shots (0.933). Slator made 18 saves (0.857).

On Saturday, the third place Queens (7-8-2-0) will travel to Edmonton and challenge the Ooks (13-2-2-0) at 6:00 p.m.

Sydnee Decorby (14) Colby Brochu Photography

Make Some Noise for Mental Health

RBC has played a significant role advocating for mental health initiatives, including their involvement and sponsorship of Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference's (ACAC's) Make Some Noise for Mental Health. Encouraging a conversation about mental health and helping to reduce the stigma are some of the goals of the campaign. With finances often a stressor for college students, RBC made a generous $1,000 donation to help RDC students become more knowledgeable about their finances and improve their financial literacy with a dinner and seminar that RBC will host. 

Colby Brochu Photography