Fetch's outstanding play guides Queens over Griffins

Brent Forster - RDC, with information from Jefferson Hagen, MacEwan Athletics

Edmonton, AB – The RDC Queens rode the stellar play of Karlee Fetch and defeated the defending Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Women's Hockey Champions, the MacEwan University Griffins, 2-1 at the Downtown Community Arena. 

Karlee Fetch produced one of the best games the DCA has seen this season with 43 saves, several of the highlight-reel variety.

"This was just a game where Fetch … I would argue that she stole the game," says Griffins Head Coach Lindsay McAlpine. "We had that net-front traffic today, we had girls crashing. We had people in the paint for deflections. She just played a great game."

The RDC Queens put 25 shots on Griffins goaltender Sandy Heim, but they opened the scoring late in the second period when Victoria Johnston converted a Neisha Germann pass from the right circle.

With the Griffins unable to get the equalizer, the Queens got an insurance marker with 2:57 left in the game when Mariah McKersie drove wide, and Heim got a piece of her shot before Kaitlan Linnell tapped the rebound into an open net.

Kaitlan Linnell (20) Pic - Tony Hansen

With Heim pulled for an extra attacker, Kyrelle Skoye broke Fetch's shutout by crashing the crease to score with 24 seconds left.

Karlee Fetch was named the Queens Player-of-the-Game, stopping 43 out of 44 shots (0.977). Kyrelle Skoye was recognized for the Griffins with the lone goal.

With the result, the Griffins fall to 14-5-2-0 on the season, while RDC improves to 9-9-4-0. That creates a potential playoff matchup in the first round as the number two and three seeds in the ACAC.

The second place Griffins will close out the regular season with games against Olds College on February 21 and 23, as well as a yet-to-be announced makeup road game at SAIT that was postponed from January 26. NAIT (16-2-2-0) leads the league with 34 points. Olds College (7-12-1-0) sits in fourth and SAIT (5-14-0-0) follows.

The third place RDC Queens (9-9-4-0) have 22 points and growing confidence. Next weekend, the Queens will face the SAIT Trojans (5-14-0-0) twice in Calgary to complete regular season action.