Take first loss of the season

On the last weekend of January, the MacEwan Griffins did what no other team had been able to accomplish, and put an end to the incredible 18 game unbeaten streak of the Mount Royal Cougar women’s hockey team.

The Griffins, having previously played the Cougars to a 2-2 tie back on Nov. 27, did so again on Friday evening at Flames Community Arenas, before returning to their home at Londonderry Arena to beat the Cougars 5-4 in a highly contested Saturday night tilt that was decided in the final second of regulation.

Although the Griffins have just four regulation wins this season, they always seem to play their best against the Cougars, and this weekend was no different. The two teams played a close game Friday night, and both goaltenders played very well. Shots were 33-28 in favour of the Cougars.

The Cougars jumped out to an early lead just 1:42 into the first period, taking advantage of a Griffin interference penalty as Taralynn Suzuki buried the period’s only goal on the powerplay, with assists going to Tanika Dawson and Shyla Stadnicki.

The Griffins capitalized on a Cougar error 5:13 into the second period, tying the game on a shorthanded goal to make it 1-1.

The Cougars answered at the 11:53 mark of the second, again on the powerplay as Chelsey Morrill capped off a nice play, converting a pass from captain Chrissy Hodgson to make it 2-1 Cougars. Jesslyn Legasse also assisted on the play.

The Cougars had 10 shots in the third, but couldn’t solve Griffin goaltender Sheena Anderson, and at 11:10 of the final period, the Griffins scored a powerplay goal to tie the game at two. Neither team could find the back of the net in regulation, and with overtime solving nothing, the game ended in a draw.

Kendall Kilgour stopped 26 of 28 shots for the Cougars.

The Cougars came into Londonderry Arena on Saturday knowing they would have their hands full, and with the two teams playing to a draw in their last two meetings, the Griffins knew this was their best shot at a win.

They rose to the challenge, and did so in dramatic fashion.

The Cougars were missing a couple key players from the line up this weekend, with goaltender Leanne Pfliger sidelined with an injury and rookie Tash Ferrier back in her home country of Australia for the IIHF Div. III Women’s World Hockey Championships. They boast one of the deepest line-ups in the conference and were well equipped for the challenge, but on this night, the opposition was just a little bit better.

The Cougars, normally known for their fast starts, went scoreless in the first period on Saturday, despite putting ten shots on net. The Griffins struck first, scoring at 17:24 of the opening frame on the powerplay to make it 1-0 Griffins.

In the second period, the Griffins scored at 5:17, and then again at 6:37 to make it 3-0, and for the first time all season the Cougars looked beatable.

The ACAC-leading team wasn’t about to lie down, though, and answered 44 seconds later as Chelsey Morrill put the Cougars on the board off a Sara Sharp feed, who had three points on the night.

An untimely Cougar body checking penalty at 9:54 of the second put the Griffins on the powerplay, and they took full advantage, beating Kilgour to make it 4-1.

With 1:16 remaining in the second, it was Morrill again to the rescue, taking a pass from Hodgson and putting it past Anderson to cut the deficit to two heading into the final frame.
Morrill capped off a brilliant night with a hat-trick at the 4:45 mark of the third period, and with the Griffins leading by just one, the Cougars were on the verge of an improbable comeback.

When the Griffins took a hooking penalty at 9:14 of the third, the Cougars seized the opportunity. Sharp scored 1:10 into the powerplay to tie the game at 4-4, and fans were on the edge of their seats in what turned out to be a classic ACAC barnburner.

The Cougars managed only five shots in the third period, and with only one line truly producing for the first place team, they couldn’t muster enough chances in the final period, which proved to be their undoing.

Just when it looked like the game would head into overtime for the third time in as many games between the two teams, Griffin defender Ashley Holt took a shot from the point with one second remaining on the clock and scored her third goal of the game, beating Kilgour and ending the Cougars’ dream of an undefeated season. Holt had four points on the night.

The Cougars will need to put the loss behind them very quickly as they prepare to face the second place SAIT Trojans this upcoming weekend. Only four games remain on the regular season schedule, with playoffs beginning Feb. 24. The Cougars will host the Trojans on Friday, Feb. 4th. Puck drops at 7:00 p.m.