The Red Deer Sutter Fund Chiefs sent a message to the Lloydminster Steelers one day before they play for the bronze medal.
Red Deer beat Lloydminster 5-1 in the final round-robin game of the Hockey Alberta Midget AAA Provincials at Servus Arena Saturday.
The two squads will play for bronze Sunday – a matchup that was set regardless of Saturday’s game.
“It’s a tough game to play in because the bronze medal game is set, but I’m proud of how we came out to play right away and stuck to our game plan,” said Bob Rutz, Chiefs coach.
Chief Cassidy Maplethorpe opened the scoring, banging in a rebound eight minutes into the first period. Shae Demale, who finished with three assists, and Brady Steinman picked up the helpers on the goal.
Alayna Wagstaff scored a powerplay goal early in the second period to extend the Chiefs’ lead to two.
The Steelers answered back early in the third period with a powerplay goal of their own, when Stephanie Fischer beat Chief netminder Rebecca Bridge, who stopped 22 of 23 shots.
But that was as close as the Steelers could get.
Red Deer scored three more times before the final buzzer, with goals coming from Maplethorpe, captain Paige Grenier on the powerplay and Avery Lajeunesse in an empty net.
Rutz said the powerplay was one of the keys to their victory.
“Our powerplay has been at its best in this tournament,” he said. “We’re moving pucks quick, getting shots to the net and taking the goalie’s eyes away.”
The Chiefs lost its first two round-robin games; a 3-2 overtime loss to the St. Albert Slash and a 1-0 loss to the Rocky Mountain Raiders.
Rutz said he thought Red Deer was the better team in those games.
“It’s unfortunate we had those two tough games (Friday),” he said. “But the girls are staying with it and sticking around even though we’re going to be playing in the game we didn’t want to play in.”
Rutz said he like the Chiefs chances in the bronze-medal game.
“We have to come prepared … and just play the same way we’ve been playing all weekend,” he said.
Red Deer plays Lloydminster Sunday at 10 a.m. at Servus Arena.
sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com
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