Single point secures third spot for Kootenay Wildcats
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The Kootenay Wildcats lost the battle but won the war.
Despite dropping a 3-2 decision to the Pacific Ravens from Richmond, the Cats still achieved the weekend goal of grabbing at least a point to capture third spot in B.C. Female Midget AAA Hockey League Sunday at the NDCC Arena.
Kootenay, finishing the season with a 9-14-5 mark, skated to a scoreless tie Saturday against the Ravens to secure a spot in the semi final round against Okanagan Rockets of Kelowna.
“We were kind of hoping get one point to secure third place in the regular season (standings),” said Kootenay captain Erin McLean following Sunday’s game.
“I’m happy got the point but not very happy to lose in my last (B.C. Female Midget AAA) league game,” added Trail’s McLean.
Leading the Ravens by three points entering the weekend Kootenay managed to clinch third thanks in part to the shutout netminding of Castlegar’s Morgan Flynn.
Flynn stopped everything the Ravens fired at the Kootenay net to lift the Wildcats to the scoreless tie.
During Sunday’s meaningless game as far as standings, Kaely McMurty scored in the third period to snap a 2-2 tie and power Pacific past the Wildcats.
Twice the Ravens took one goal leads and twice the Wildcats rallied to tie the game.
“Our heads just weren’t in this game,” McLean admitted. “The final result may have counted a little less (as far as standings) but for the third-year girls we all wanted to win.”
Emily Jude and Emina Ida scored twice for the Ravens while Stephanie McAuley of Trail had a pair for Kootenay.
Kylee Styles registered the win in goal for the Ravens while Lauren Biggs of Salmo took the loss for Kootenay.
The Wildcats have a few weeks off before travelling to Kelowna to meet the Rockets in one of two semi finals.
“We’ve played Kelowna pretty well this season, winning a little less than have the games against them so we feel pretty good going against them,” McLean said.
Meanwhile the Ravens play host to Prince George Cougars in quarterfinal round action March 16-18 in Richmond.
The Richmond/Prince George winner meets regular season champ Fraser Valley Phantom in the other semi final.
The semi final winners meet in the league championship.
KOOTENAY NOTES: Team captain Erin McLean of Trail led the Wildcats in scoring with 12 points. Denomie Vockeroth of Rossland had 11 points while Cori-Anne Huisman of Fernie and Stephanie McAuley each had 10 points.
