Uphill challenge, but Cats confident better days ahead on Female Hockey trail
By Bruce Fuhr
Kiana Karoyli scored in the third period to snap a 1-1 tie and spark the visiting Okanagan Rockets to a 2-1 victory over Kootenay Wildcats in B.C. Female AAA Hockey League action Sunday at the NDCC Arena.
The win gave the Rockets a leg up on the Cats during the two-game set.
The teams played to a 1-1 tie Saturday.
“I think we have very young, enthusiastic team that works hard all the time,” said Kootenay head coach Cary Fisher following the tough loss Sunday.
“You can see that from their play today . . . nobody gives up, everybody back checks.”
“I think for us it’s just finding the right chemistry as a lot of girls haven’t played together so it’s going to take a little while for them to jell together,” Fisher adds.
Kootenay is 2-3-1 on the season after the one-point weekend against the Rockets.
Despite the loss Fisher is confident the Wildcats will be a force come the end of the season.
“We probably have the best goaltending in the province in Morgan Flynn from Castlegar and Salmo’s Lauren Biggs,” Fisher said.
“Now we just have to find our scoring touch.”
Once again the scoring touch deserted the Cats during the weekend.
Despite having many good chances, Kootenay struggled around the net.
Nelson’s Jesse Cooper tied the game for Kootenay after the Rockets opened the scoring in the second.
Saturday, Cori-Anne Huisman of Fernie scored the only goal of the game for the Cats.
“The girls really enjoy each other so I don’t think personality is going to be any kind of an issue going forward,” Fisher explained.
“It’s just a matter of learning a new way to play the game from where they played before also the level of intensity that’s required . . . this league is a much more intense scenario for us.”
The Female Midget AAA League was initiated in the 2007-2008 season in response to the membership’s desire to provide an opportunity for elite female hockey players to come together on zone teams to challenge other elite Female Midget teams.
Kootenay, with players from Nelson, Nakusp, Trail, Rossland, Fruitvale, Fernie, Golden, Canal Flats, Salmo and Castlegar, remains at home this weekend when the Cats welcome Fraser Valley Fusion for a pair of games beginning Saturday in Kaslo.
Saturday puck drop is 2:15 p.m.
Sunday the game begins at 9:15 a.m.
