RDP Queens down Broncos in final regular season game

Red Deer, AB – After allowing the first goal, the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens got their offence rolling against the Olds College Broncos.

The RDP Queens received goals from three different student-athletes and earned a 3-1 victory, solidifying second spot in the standings.

"It was a cautious start for the team. They seemed a bit tentative," commented Kelly Coulter, RDP Queens Hockey Head Coach. "I'd still like to see the energy and effort be more consistent, but they got the job done tonight."

The Broncos opened the scoring at 11:36 of the first period. Olds' forward Ireland Greenhough drove the net, got a piece of the puck and it eluded Queens goaltender Tora Ward.

At 12:40 of the second period, the RDP Queens evened the contest with Rylee Mepham's ninth goal of the season. While stationed to the right of the Broncos' net, Mepham quickly released a shot that beat netminder Cienna Kinghorn on the glove side.

Mepham (94)

"Chloe Belter's line with Rylee Mepham and Camryn Ward played very, very well tonight," said Coulter. "I thought they were difference makers in the game and started to get the bus rolling."

With 31.3 seconds left in the stanza, Queens defender Kyla Hansel beat Kinghorn on the glove side with a hard wrist shot from inside the blueline. Hansel's sixth goal of the season put the home team up by a pair.

Then captain Avery Lajeunesse gave the Polytechnic a two goal cushion with her 11th of the season. The Bachelor of Education Elementary student scored on the short side at 5:44 of the third period. The Queens sealed a 3-1 win.

Lajeunesse (22)

"Number 8, Babs, she hustled to get to the puck, won that battle and popped it right to me," said Lajeunesse. "As I was driving the net I saw the other player in front of the net and moved around her. I knew that I wanted to put the puck in the net and just flipped it into the corner."

Coulter was impressed with Lajeunesse's goal and appreciative of her contributions to the Queens Hockey program.

"That's the legacy with her – that goal doesn't surprise me. Drive and compete, that's what Avery has had since the day she pulled on the Queens jersey," added Coulter of the fourth-year student-athlete. "With Avery leaving, it will leave a huge hole to fill. She's just gotten better and better each year that she's been here."

Lajeunesse was named the North Star Sports Queens Player of the Game. Greenhough picked up the awards for the Broncos.

The RDP Queens couldn't convert on four power plays. The Queens top penalty kill (93%) was perfect on three Broncos' power plays.

Ward stopped 16-of-17 shots. Kinghorn made 20 saves.

The Red Deer Polytechnic Queens (19-6) finished second in the standings and the NAIT Ooks (17-8) followed in third. The two teams will face each other in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Women's Hockey best-of-three semi-final.

"NAIT is a good team, but we have to give ourselves credit," added Lajeunesse. "If we stick to our game plan, I'm confident that we have the skill and strength to get the job done. I'm excited."

The RDP Queens will host the NAIT Ooks in game one on Friday, March 1 at 7 pm. The second game will be played in Edmonton. If necessary, the third game will be played at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre on Sunday, March 3.

"It's nice to get home ice advantage and rest in your own bed," said Coulter. "NAIT has a very skilled team. We have to be very strong defensively and execute consistently and stick with our game plan consistently."

The first place Lakeland College Rustlers (21-4) will play the fourth seed SAIT Trojans (10-15) in the other semi-final.

Hansel (4) and Ward (32)