The RDC Queens were a little rusty in their first game action since Nov. 24.
The MacEwan University Griffins scored late in the second and iced the game early in the third on the power play to pick up a 3-1 win over the Queens in Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference play.
They also outshot RDC 37-23.
“I thought we had a really good first period and we seemed to let off in the second. Would have been nice to bury a couple scoring chances in the second to get up on them,” said Queens head coach Kelly Coulter.
“They’re a strong team and I felt that we looked a little lethargic as the game went on. I thought (Sandy) Heim did a great job for them, as did Karlee for us keeping us in it, in the third period.”
Mariah McKersie tied the game at one for the Queens after the Griffins opened scoring 4:38 into the second.
Karlee Fetch made 34 saves in the Queens net, while Sandy Heim had 23 saves for the Griffins.
RDC will be in tough for the second half, as assists leader Veronika Bucifalova returned home to the Czech Republic.
The Queens also lost goalie Nisa Bartlett, Tyra Coutts on the backend and forward Kierra Scollo.
“We had some girls decide that they didn’t want to return in the second half. Some for school reasons and personal reasons,” Coulter said.
“Hard people to replace, but one of the reasons we carry a large roster is so we can continue and when you face adversity like this, just solider on.”
They are back on the ice in Edmonton Saturday to finish the home-and-home with the Griffins.
The RDC Kings loss their first game out of the break, 10-1 to the NAIT Ooks.
Chase Thudium had the only goal in the loss for the Kings. It was a penalty-filled affair, with the Kings racking up 40 minutes with 12 infractions. NAIT had 38 minutes with 11 infractions.
NAIT outshot RDC 48-28 in the game.
The two teams renew pleasantries on Saturday night at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre, with puck drop at 7 p.m.
Email sports tips to Byron Hackett
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter