Kootenay Wildcats open season with pair of wins
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The Kootenay Wildcats opened the 2011-12 B.C. Female Midget Hockey League with a 2-1 record during a tournament in Nelson.
The Cats started the campaign with a 5-1 loss to Okanagan Rockets before reeling off two consecutive wins over Vancouver Fusion, 5-4 and Prince George Cougars, 4-2.
Kootenay is tied for top spot in the league with Fraser Valley Phantom.
However, the Phantom played only two games during the weekend.
Against Okanagan, the Rockets built up a 5-0 with two goals in the first period and three in the second.
Maggie Shykula-Ross scored twice to lead the Rockets.
McKayla Yuris (Trail) scored the lone goal for Kootenay.
The Cats rebounded during game two to outlast the Fusion by a goal.
Kathryn Haegedorn (Kaslo) led Kootenay with two goals with singles going to Shea Weighill (Nakusp), Courtney Donald (Cranbrook) and Holly Nikrik (Invermere).
Kootenay held period leads of 1-0 and 3-2.
The Cats then completed the weekend above .500 by doubling Prince George.
Goals by Denomie Vockeroth (Rossland) and Christina Bonacci (Trail), with a pair, sparked a three-goal third period allowing the Cats to grab the win.
Heidi Haegedorn (Kaslo) scored the final goal for Kootenay.
Morgan Flynn and Kayla Keraiff, both of Castlegar, shared the netminding duties.
The Cats return to action this weekend with a pair of games against the Fusion in Pitt Meadows.
sports@thenelsondaily.com
