Adding to the energy, the teams were placed right next to each other in the locker room. Since several of the Sting also skate with the CIHC, there was quite the banter before the game.
"We're going to come after you today," said a CIHC coach with a smile.
"Bring it!" snapped Brienne Walker as she walked out the door.
"Bring it" they did! In fact, both teams brought it for all three periods.
Alex opened the scoring early in the first to give the Sting the lead. But the Ice Hockey Club wouldn't go away. Their coaches did a great job juggling lines, kept the bench spirit high and told the kids to keep their feet moving.
"They're little, but they're really good!" said one of the girls from the bench.
CIHC scored the next two goals, despite excellent goaltending from Sting goalie, Emma Titus.
The game was as hockey is supposed to be -- full of end-to-end action. Both netminders made excellent saves. "Their goalie is probably the third star, since he had to make more saves than me," Emma admitted after the game.
Other stars?
Emma Clark and Samantha Horton had quality scoring chances in the game, but the CIHC goalie was up to the task. Both girls skated hard and kept fighting for loose pucks.
Olivia did an excellent job in neutral ice controlling the puck and making good passes in both zones. She kept her feet moving and used her long reach to break up scoring chances. She doesn't shy away from contact, either. There were a couple times during the game where she leaned into the other team to get the puck.
Kailtin Osterman played center, smiling the whole time. She had some whacks at the puck off a rebound a couple times but couldn't bury the biscuit. She's become a very confident stick-handler!
Whitney Karg moved from offense to defense and was effective in both zones. She's tough to get the puck from in traffic and this game was no different.
Brienne Walker is just plain tough. She accidently drilled a couple of the other team's skaters when they got in her way, but they got right back up just as quickly as they went down. Walker was a force all game.
"Mad Dog" was her tenacious, scrappy self, nosing her way into and out of traffic with the puck and never giving up on the play.
Jo played her position very well and set-up Sting shooters in the slot with some great passes from below the net.
Both Alex's played excellent. So did Haley, manning the blueline. Her long stick and quick poke-check made a big difference in the game against the speed of the other team's wingers.
But according to Emma, Molly Brumfield gets the nod for first star. Molly scored back to back goals late in the third period to give the Sting a 3-2 lead just inside 4 minutes to play. The first was a laser shot over the goalie's shoulder, hitting the crossbar and falling in the net. Rick Nash would have been jealous!
"The 2nd star probably goes to their goal scorer with the third goal," said Emma. "He was a great little player and had a good shot. I had that last shot on my head but someone hit me with their stick and I couldn't hold it," she continued. "I'm mad I gave up that goal!"
Friends and family for both sides would agree, it was one heck of a game!
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