Queens 2 Griffins 1
If the RDC Queens have any hope of making the Alberta Colleges Women’s Hockey League playoffs they have to take care of business against the Grant MacEwan University Griffins.
The two teams clash four times during the second half. The first meeting came Thursday with the Queens taking a step in the right direction with a 2-1 win at the Arena.
The win moved the fifth-place RDC squad to within four points of the Griffins with a return match tonight in Edmonton. The teams will also clash in their final two games of the regular season, Feb. 17 and 18.
“This was a step forward, but we can’t start celebrating anything yet,” said Queens head coach Rob Weddell. “These are all must-win games for us and MacEwan knows that and aren’t about to give us anything. They’re a hard-working, gritty team and we have to match that to have success.”
Rookie winger Becca Glackin agreed.
“These (first two) games against Grant MacEwan can give us a lot of momentum for the rest of the season,” said the 18-year-old Red Deer Sutter Fund Chiefs grad. “We know what we have to do to make the playoffs and we have to beat them.”
Glackin played with Jessica and Megan Abt and the trio may have been the best line on the ice.
“We’ve been together since Christmas and we just seem to click . . . there’s confidence,” said Glackin, who played with Jessica Abt with the midget AAA Chiefs. “Jess and I do know each other which makes it nice when you know where each other will be.”
Glackin also feels she’s just beginning to show her talent at the college level.
“It took me pretty much the whole first half to feel comfortable. I trained hard during the summer to be ready, but it was still a big jump as overall the players are bigger and stronger. Plus every team seems to have a good goaltender.”
Glackin didn’t find the scoresheet Thursday, but Jessica Abt notched her second goal in as many games at 15:45 of the third period, which proved to be the winner. Abt connected on a scramble in front of MacEwan netminder Sheena Anderson but it wasn’t ruled a goal until after the officials conferred.
The Griffins led 1-0 at 7:38 of the middle stanza when Janella Brodett shovelled home a loose puck under Queens netminder Kendra Lakeman. However Rachael Hoppins connected for her third goal of the season at 12:02 when she took a nice feed from Chantal Froehler in the slot and beat Anderson with a snap shot to the glove side.
The Queens controlled the majority of the play over the final two periods, after Lakeman keep the game under control with a pair of outstanding close in saves in the opening frame.
“Kenny was sharp for sure, but overall we played hard,” said Weddell. “The girls are coming off a couple of weeks of hard practice and they’re excited about the rest of the season and want to make the playoffs.”
Weddell feels the Queens’ play took a step up from last week when they dropped a pair of games to undefeated Mount Royal.
“We weren’t terrible last week, but there were things we needed to improve on and the girls did that tonight. We were more aggressive around the net and were getting more shots.”
Weddell also moved forward Brittney Erlandson to defence and while at times she showed she’s still learning the position, she also did an excellent job of moving the puck.
“Her one-on-one play still needs a little work because she’s just getting used to the position, but her puck movement was excellent,” said Weddell.
• Lakeman finished with 16 saves while her mates had 28 shots on Anderson . . . The Queens return home next Thursday when they face SAIT at 7 p.m. at the Arena.
drode@www.reddeeradvocate.com