Blades edge Peewee Chinooks

Peewee Chinooks vs Picture Butte Blades
C. Davis photos and video

Chris Davis, Sports

Pincher Creek's Peewee Chinooks had home game scheduled for Saturday November 16, but it was cancelled, so they held a practice instead.  On Sunday afternoon November 17 they hosted Picture Butte's Blades at the Memorial Community Centre for what was to prove a very exciting game of hockey.

During this game the Chinooks demonstrated how much they've grown in a very short time.  They really looked like a team out there, far more in tune with each other than they were previously.

The Blades were sharp in the first period, running the score up to 3-0 in their favour until Chinooks #15 Trinity Tanner scored with only 2:07 remaining in the period.  Tanner was assisted by #26 Abi Cryderman and #20 Nelz Vance.

Nelz Vance was in fine form in the second period, digging in, passing well, shooting well and frequently, finally scoring an unassisted goal at the 10:46 mark.

Chinooks goalie #1 Wes Krampe was under constant fire after that as the Blades upped the pressure, but the Chinooks' defence was on top of it and the score remained at 3-2 for the Blades at the end of the period.

Both teams were playing flat out in the third, one great shift after another.  Lots of back and forth play but no scoring until Trinity Tanner scored her second goal of the game for the Chinooks, after repeated efforts, with 6:02 remaining in the game.  #13 Thunder Crowshoe got an assist on that play.

Now tied at 3-3, it didn't stay that way long.  With 5:21 remaining Blades #19 Sebastian Liska scored, assisted by Carter Wobick and Donovan McDowell.  4-3 for the Blades, and that's where it stood at the final buzzer.

Peewee Chinooks Head Coach Brandon Yellow Wings was understandably happy with the team's performance.  "I was impressed with the game," he said.  "They were kind of running around the first period and then we talked to them about calming down and getting their head in the game.  We have 2 teams that came together and it will take them a while to get to know one another and start moulding as a team. They are really starting to get it together and play as a team."

"The girls are really getting in there and they know the game.  You really don't expect that from girls.  We have 6 girls on our team."

"As always, our goalie was outstanding and he is always holding the team together," Yellow Wings continued. "Our D-men are always backing him up and when they are not available, he is always standing on his head and playing his part.  Other than that, they all played really good."

'The thing about our team is that we have a lot of beginners.  They are just learning their positions and really learning the game of hockey, so the rest of the players have to step up and compensate for that.  We have two players that are playing for the first time and a few more that are playing their second year."

"There has not been any consistency before this but they are all really starting to gel.  They are going to start pressuring the puck in the offensive zone, getting in the corners and getting the puck to the net."