Goaltenders shine as Trojans edge Queens in a shootout

Red Deer, AB – It was a goaltending duel between Red Deer Polytechnic's Izzy Palumbo and SAIT's Kaylin Schellenberg Friday evening.

Entering the game, Schellenberg (0.958) and Palumbo (0.955) sat first and second in league save percentage and they both continued their outstanding play at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre.

With a combined 72 saves over regulation time and two overtime periods, the netminders forced a shootout. Only one member of the Trojans found the back of the net in the shootout, providing SAIT a 2-1 road decision.

The Red Deer Polytechnic Queens opened the scoring at 12:07 of the first period. Hayley Kolosky, a first-year forward, beat Schellenberg shorthanded to lift the home team ahead 1-0. It was Kolosky's eighth goal of the season. Alli Soyko, a Bachelor of Education Elementary student, recorded the lone assist.

Kolosky (5) and Soyko (93)

The RDP Queens' 1-0 lead held until 12:44 of the third period. Trojans forward Asha Kailey found space behind Palumbo, recording her second marker in 17 games.

Throughout a five minute overtime period of four-on-four and five minutes of three-on-three, Palumbo and Schellenberg blanked the opposition, forcing a shootout.

Williams Lake's Pyper Alexander was the only student-athlete to find the back of the net, giving SAIT a 2-1 win.

Queens Hockey Head Coach Kelly Coulter didn't see consistency throughout the lineup.

"Tonight, there was a lack of energy, effort and execution," he said. "We didn't receive enough contributions from our key players."

The Queens' league-leading penalty kill (92.3%) was perfect on the night, not allowing a goal on the Trojans' six power plays. The Queens couldn't capitalize on two attempts with the extra skater.

Palumbo made 33 saves. Schellenberg stopped 39 shots.

Coulter commended the play of his goaltender, along with a few other Queens.

"Palumbo, Kolosky and [Kassy] Gaudette had strong games," he noted. 

Both Palumbo and Schellenberg were named the North Star Sports Players of the Game for their respective teams.

With the shootout setback, the Queens sit in third spot (48 points) in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) standings. The Lakeland College Rustlers are first with 51 points and NAIT follows (49 points).

On Saturday, February 10, the RDP Queens (16-5-1) will face the SAIT Trojans (8-12-0) in Calgary at 5 pm.