Queens season over early
Cougars 2 Queens 1
CALGARY — The RDC Queens season came to an abrupt end Friday.
The Queens dropped a 2-1 decision to the Mount Royal College Cougars and were eliminated from the Alberta Colleges Women’s Hockey League playoffs 2-0 in the best-of-three quarter-final series.
It was the third straight year the Queens have lost in the opening round against a team lower in the standings. The Queens went into the playoffs ranked third with the Cougars sixth.
“Disappointing, but I couldn’t be prouder of the girls,” said Queens head coach Rob Weddell. “We went into the series with a number of injuries and everyone of those girls sucked it up and played hurt.”
Defensive leader Lindsay Hogg was suffering from a dislocated shoulder while star forward Karla Bourke had a hip injury as did winger Amber Graham. Defenceman Becky Bohlender was struggling with a bad ankle and knee.
“I know it sounds like an excuse, but these girls gave it all they had, plus we had several others with the ‘flu and they were throwing up between periods,” said Weddell.
Still the Queens outplayed the Cougars, but had trouble with goaltender Sarah Oswald, who finished with 23 saves.
“That was supposed to be one of their weaknesses, but she played real well,” said Weddell.
The Cougars had 17 shots on Queens goaltender Grace Gaska.
The Queens opened the scoring at 7:05 of the first period when Hogg blasted a shot from the point to beat Oswald while shorthanded.
Sharina Filion scored a power play goal to even the count at 16:56 of the second period, then notched the winner on a breakaway 52 seconds into the third period.
“They were on the power play to start the third period and we just killed it off when they broke away,” explained Weddell, who felt the team scored late in the final period with Gaska on the bench in favour of an extra attacker.
“The girls said the puck was over the line, but the referee was in good position and he said it wasn’t. Still we have several good chances to score, but it wasn’t to be.”
The Queens are done for the season, but not Weddell, who is scouting for next season and will hold his I.D. camp April 4.
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