The Bisons women’s hockey team split their weekend series with the Mount Royal University Cougars, winning the first game 2-1 on Friday, Dec. 5, and losing the rematch 4-2 on Saturday, Dec. 6.
In the first game, the Cougars struck first, scoring a power-play goal in the 11th minute [11:10] of the first period. Jerzey Watteyne netted the goal, assisted by her teammates, giving the Cougars the early 1-0 lead. The Bisons responded with a goal from Julia Bird in the 19th minute [19:03] of the first period, tying the game 1-1. The Bisons took the lead in the second period with a goal from Jessie Haner in the second minute [02:27], making it 2-1.
The game was marked by several penalties, with Cougars’ Jordynne Hojnocki sent off for tripping in the fourth minute [04:31], Glory Plett (Bisons) for tripping in the ninth minute [09:47], Allee Gerrard (Cougars) for hooking in the 13th minute [13:25] and Aimee Patrick (Bisons) for hooking in the 14th minute [14:53]. Patrick was later sent to the box again for interference, in the second minute [02:59] of the second period.
In the third period, Cougars’ Summer Fomradas was sent off for holding in the fourth minute [04:10]. Bisons’ Sophia Anderson and Sadie Keller were also sent off for tripping in the 12th minute [12:16] and holding in the 13th minute [13:57] respectively. Despite the Cougars’ efforts to mount a comeback while the Bisons were shorthanded, the third period ended goalless, as the Bisons held on to their lead, securing a 2-1 win thanks to the strong goaltending of Emily Shippam.
Shippam explained how she managed the pressure from the Cougars. “I tried to stay pretty level throughout the game, not to get too high or low because things can change super quick all the way up to the last minute of the game. I think our team had a great penalty kill and I was able to make some saves and give our team some good momentum.”
Similarly, Bisons women’s hockey head coach Jordan Colliton shared her experience on the last two minutes of the third period. “I thought we weathered it, we matched it at times, we generated momentum on our end as well. That big penalty kill, 5 on 4, 5 on 3, then back to 5 on 4, for an extended amount of time, for us to kill those off was a turning point in the game.”
She further shared her favourite moment of the game, “I think in the third period when we got through those kills just shows a commitment to us to defend, to play the right way for each other and sacrifice yourselves for each other.”
In the second game, the Bisons scored early with a goal from Norah Collins in the 13th minute [13:43], assisted by Bird and Alyssa Rasmuson. However, the Cougars responded with four unanswered goals, including an empty-net goal, to secure the 4-2 win. The Cougars’ goals were scored by Isa MacPhee, Watteyne, Ava Metzger and Jori Hansen-Young, who netted the empty-net goal.
The Bisons’ other goal was scored by Keller.
The Bisons outshot the Cougars in both games, 26-21 on Friday and 28-25 on Saturday.
The herd will be back in the new year to play against the Saskatchewan Huskies in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan at 8 p.m. CT on Friday, Dec. 9 and at 6 p.m. CT on Saturday, Dec. 10.
