The Queens shutout Trojans on top of Lajeunesse's three-point performance, Kings narrowly defeat Thunder
Calgary and Red Deer, October 21, 2023 – Earlier today, the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens shut out the SAIT Trojans 4-0 in Calgary with a three-point performance from Avery Lajeunesse. Later on, the Kings narrowly defeated the Concordia University Thunder 5-4.
Please see below for more information on each match.
Women's Hockey – Queens 0 at SAIT Trojans 4
On top of Avery Lajeunesse's three-point performance and Tora Ward's second shutout of the season, the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens were able to sweep their two-game series against the SAIT Trojans with a commanding 4-0 victory on Saturday afternoon.
Ten minutes into the first period, Queens forward Julie Wagner (Bachelor of Arts in Communications) opened the scoring as Trojans goaltender Chelsea West (Bachelor of Business Administration) gave off a rebound and Wagner one-timed the open puck into the back of the net. Originally, Lajeunesse (Bachelor of Education) fired a shot on net in the high slot that led to West giving off the rebound onto the stick of Wagner.
At the end of the opening period, the Trojans continued to be outshot by the Queens as they fired 17 on West with RDP goaltender Tora Ward (Open Studies) just facing a total of three.
Lajeunnesse would find the back of the net on the powerplay 10 minutes into the second to give her team some insurance after she was left all alone skating off the boards into the high slot where she fired a wrist shot past a screened goaltender.
The Polytechnic would keep tacking on the goals as forward Hayley Kolosky (Bachelor of Arts in Psychology) would score her first ACAC goal late in the second period. Kolosky was stopped on her first attempt but jumped on the rebound and put it away for the Queens third goal of the game.
Lajeunesse, who was named the player of the game for the Queens, would add her second goal and third point of the game as she scored in the first four minutes of the third period. Wagner would pick up her second point of the game on the goal with an assist.
The Queens will be away next weekend as they face off against the Medicine Hat College Rattlers for the first time in their program history with the Rattlers Women's Hockey program joining the ACAC this season. The first game will start at 7:45 pm on Friday with the puck dropping at 1:15 pm on Saturday to conclude their two-game weekend in Medicine Hat.
Men's Hockey – Concordia University Thunder 4 at Kings 5
After going 0-2 in their opening weekend, the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings bounced back with two consecutive victories over the Concordia University Thunder.
Last night, the Kings needed a shootout to pick up their first win of the season. But tonight they narrowly defeated the Thunder 5-4 and would finally win a game in regulation after their last two games needed extra time.
Concordia would open up the scoring in the first period 10 minutes in with a goal coming from forward Zach Carlson (Bachelor of Arts) which happened to be the lone goal in the period. The Thunder pounded the Kings net with shots as goaltender Arik Weersink (Kinesiology Fitness and Health) faced 19 with the Thunder Ashton Billesberger stopped all eight he faced in the first period.
But the goals would come for RDP. They managed to get four goals from four different players. Forward Ryland McNinch (Bachelor of Education) scored the fourth goal of the period for his team shorthand which put the Kings up 4-3 as they went into the third period.
The Polytechnic would get some much-needed insurance as forward Holden Knights (Business Certificate) would score his second of the game which ultimately was the game-winner. Knights was later named the player of the game.
The Thunder would get within one as defence Zachary Cunningham (Bachelor of Management) scored two minutes after the Knight goal. But it was not enough as the Kings grinded out a 5-4 win on home ice.
Head Coach Trevor Keeper explained as the team was defending a one goal lead in the third period, it was the little things that stuck out the most for him in the win.
"Chase Haygarth was eight wins and two losses in the faceoff circle. Holden Knights scored a couple of goals. His linemates, Ryland McNinch and Nolan Doell used their speed and worked hard. People have to take turns leading. When some of the guys that you can count on to score points are down, you need others to step up and I thought we had that tonight."
The Thunder player of the game was awarded to forward Rivon Nivon (Bachelor of Management) who had two assists on the night.
The Kings and Thunder will be back in action next weekend. RDP will play host to the Portage Voyageurs for two games starting on Friday at 7 pm. On the other side of the ice, the Thunder will host the NAIT Ooks on Friday at 7 pm in the first game of the home-and-series.