With all the chances each team had, one goal was all it took for a win.
The Calgary Fire White found the only marker on a nice deflection in the third period against the host Red Deer Sutter Fund Chiefs Wednesday during the opening day of the Bantam Elite Female Hockey Alberta Provincials.
Calgary goalie Kaylee McKay was brilliant in the win, stopping all 26 shots she faced in the 1-0 shutout at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre and earned player of the game honours for her efforts.
“She’s been unreal for two months straight. I don’t think she’s let in a goal– I can’t even think of the last time. She’s been unreal and that’s why I said get us one and we’ll be good,” noted Calgary coach Kyle Severson.
Red Deer dominated possession for much of the first and had several grade-A chances to go-ahead. McKay bailed her team out early and often on the way to the win.
“For us, it was just get through a little bit of rust. They pushed really hard at the start, ” said Severson.
“It was hang on and wait for our legs to catch up. Once our legs caught up, I was pretty happy with how we were able to get our forecheck going and played a lot of time in their zone.”
Fire White forward Ashylynn Stitt drove the net and took a pass from Molly Heighington to score the only goal seven minutes and five seconds into the third period.
“In between periods, that’s exactly what we said. Just get us one, that’s probably all we’re going to get, then we’ll just battle it out,” Severson said.
Chiefs goalie Ridleigh Hansen also played stellar in the loss, allowing the only goal while turning aside 23 shots on the afternoon.
They two sides traded chances all game long and at times, Red Deer looked poised to break through. Their power play had some solid zone-time and had two chances in the final 10 minutes including a four-minute advantage. McKay was equal to the task.
“I thought our game picked up right after the goal. We responded really well,” said Chiefs head coach Byron Bullee.
“A couple great saves and a couple of fortunate bounces for them and easily it could have been a 3-1 game for us. I really thought we had the better scoring chances. I feel we deserved a better fate.”
Bullee added that his team played an almost perfect game in the contest and hopes they have another shot against Calgary in the final.
“This is the team that is our toughest competition and we more than matched them. I am very comfortable to see them in the gold medal game,” said Bullee.
Jolie Nafziger was the player of the game for the Chiefs.
In the opening game of the tournament, the North Central Impact downed the Calgary Fire Red 3-2. The Impact also won 1-0 on Thursday night.
Play Friday begins at 9 a.m. with Fire White against the Lloydminster Steelers. Red Deer squares off against the Impact at 11:45 a.m. and the Fire White and Red tangle at 3:30 p.m. Red Deer caps off play Friday against the Steelers at 6:15 p.m.
Email sports tips to Byron Hackett
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