Queens start off 2024 with a shootout victory over the Rustlers

Red Deer, January 12, 2024 - The Red Deer Polytechnic Queens used a third-period comeback to defeat the Lakeland College Rustlers 3-2 in a shootout.

After the first 20 minutes of play in both team's first game back after the Christmas break, the Rustlers outshot the Queens 15-5.

After being outshot in the first period, the Queens held the Rustlers to just one shot in the first 10 minutes of the middle frame. But on the team's second shot of the period, forward Brooklyn Salewski (Crop Technology) managed to wrist the puck top corner from a tough angle past goaltender Izzy Palumbo (Bachelor of Commerce) to take the first lead of the hockey game. Salewski was later named the Rustlers of the game.

With under five minutes left to play in the second period, forward Belle Smith (University Transfer) extended the Rustlers lead as she deflected a shot past the Queens goaltender.

Lakeland College continued to outshoot RDP as they went into the third period holding a 25-12 lead in shots.

The Queens cut the Rustlers lead just under six minutes into the third period with forward Victoria Longley (Open Studies) deflecting home a pass from her linemate Camryn Ward (Bachelor of Kinesiology). Longley was later named the Queens player of the game.

With under two minutes to play in the third, forward Avery Lajeunesse played hero as she made a nice move in front of the net and backhanded it over the Rustlers goaltender to tie the game up to send it to overtime.

Four-on-four and three-on-three solved nothing which meant this game was heading to a shootout where the Queens finished the comeback to start off the second half with a huge win over the Rustlers.

The Rustlers and the Queens will be back at it tomorrow night in Lloydminster for the second game of this doubleheader. The puck will drop just after 7 pm.

Players of the Game: Brooklyn Salewski (Rustlers) and Victoria Longley (Queens)