Ooks come from behind to defeat Queens in a shootout

EDMONTON, Alta. - The NAIT Ooks women's ice hockey team rallied back to defeat the RDC Queens 5-4 in a shootout on Saturday night. 

The NAIT Ooks dominated the play in the first fifteen minutes of the game, but late in the period, a few defensive breakdowns led to the Queens scoring a few quick goals, taking a 3-0 lead into the first intermission.

The Ooks found their stride in the second period. Michaella Kibblewhite put NAIT on the board as she beat Karlie Fetch early in the period. Cassidy Shandro found the back of the net later in the frame, followed by Kibblewhite again, this time on the powerplay to tie the game at three. Avery Lajeunesse added a late Queens goal to put her team back up 4-3 before the second intermission.

In the third period, Ooks' captain Brittney Savard tied the game with just over ten minutes to play, as she corralled a rebound and shoveled it past fetch. Overtime solved nothing, despite a late RDC powerplay, forcing this game into a shootout. 

Before the shootout, Queen's coach Kelly Coulter elected to pull Fetch in favour of Madison Fox, Fetch let in all three goals the last time these two teams went to a shootout. In the end, it did not matter as Kaitlyn Slator turned away all three Queen's shooters while Savard and Megan Leblanc both scored for NAIT, handing them the win. 

Players of the Game:

NAIT Ooks - Michaella Kibblewhite

RDC Queens - Avery Lajeunesse

The Big Picture:

NAIT Ooks - 10-6-1 - 3rd in the ACAC

RDC Queens - 10-5-2 - 2nd in the ACAC

What's Next?

NAIT Ooks @ MacEwan Griffins - Jan.24th, 7:00 PM

RDC Queens @ Olds Broncos - Jan.23rd, 7:00 PM