Pandas 5 Queens 0
Jennifer Jubb has some fond memories of the Red Deer Arena and the RDC Queens.
The Red Deer native spent two years with the Queens working on her skills, as she prepared to take the next step, and it definitely paid dividends.
“I’m definitely glad I spent the two years here,” said Jubb, who scored once for the University of Alberta Pandas in their 5-0 win over the Queens at the Arena Thursday.
“I got a lot of playing time and got a chance to work on the power play and penalty kill, something I needed in my development. I could have went after the first year, but I led the team scoring my second and that was also something that helped me prepare. But after two years it was time to move on.”
Jubb spent last season working on the third line with the Pandas, and this year she’s moved up, plus has been getting power play and penalty killing time.
“‘I’m also in more of a leadership role,” she added.
The Pandas are consistently ranked among the top teams in the CIS and this year won’t be an exception. They showed that Thursday as they dominated play, outshooting the Queens 54-6.
“I knew they were good but I didn’t realize they were that good,” said Queens head coach Rob Weddell, whose defence had all kinds of problems handling the Pandas forecheck.
“I thought our defence did a good job as they worked hard, but we need to work on our puck movement. Then again we haven’t worked at all on our breakouts, which you could tell.”
On the positive was an outstanding job by both RDC netminders — veteran Kaitlyn Chapman and rookie Kendra Lakemen. Chapman started and allowed two goals — both in the first period — and left midway through the second down 2-0 and after facing 26 shots. Lakeman allowed a pair of second period goals and one on 18 shots in the third.
“They were very good,” said Weddell. “And the thing was they both faced enough shots it was like playing a full game.”
Despite the lack of shots, the Queens did have a couple of excellent scoring opportunities, but Pandas rookie netminder Michala Jeffries stopped Karla Bourke and Treena Dodd on breakaways.
In the end it was a lesson for the Queens.
“Something we can look at and learn,” said Weddell. “We did some good things plus they showed us what we need to work on. That’s a positive.”
Contact Danny Rode at drode@www.reddeeradvocate.com