PENHOLD– The Central Alberta Amazons just couldn’t buy a goal on the weekend.
The Amazons were shutout on back-to-back days by the Cochrane Chaos, who clinched another Alberta Junior Female Hockey League North Division title Saturday afternoon.
Cochrane earned the title with their second 1-0 victory over the Amazons in Penhold Saturday.
“They played their best hockey of the year by far,” said Amazons head coach Randy Burt about his team’s play.
“Just couldn’t find the pin when we needed it. We had two open nets and we missed them both. We didn’t capitalize on our chances. We outplayed them at times, they outplayed us at times.
“They are who we wanted to play all year. Truthfully this is the league final. It’s going to be different when they go up north.”
The home side fell behind 1-0 in the opening frame, but battled throughout the second and third with a bevy of chances to tie the game.
Their best opportunity came on a one minute 5-on-3 advantage, but they just weren’t able to sneak a puck past Chaos netminder Megan Parkyn.
She turned aside all 23 shots fired her way on Saturday and also pitched the shutout Friday.
Nisa Bartlett did all she could to keep the Amazons close, shutting the door through two periods Saturday and finishing the game with 28 saves.
“She gave us the opportunity to win but we just couldn’t take advantage of it,” Burt said.
Burt added that although his team came up just short in the final, he was happy with how they competed all year long.
“Just how proud I am of them,” said Burt about his postgame message to his team.
“They busted their butts out there. There’s no regrets. We left it all out on the ice. That’s what they’re supposed to do.”
Email sports tips to Byron Hackett
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