When you reach this point in the season, it’s about what can’t be coached.
Protecting a 4-1 third-period lead in Alberta Major Bantam AAA Female Hockey League (AMBFHL) South Division final play against Calgary Outlaws, the Rocky Mountain Raiders began parading to the penalty box. Calgary narrowed the score to 4-2 on the power play. Before the goal was announced, Rocky Mountain’s Kennedy Moore sniped one past Outlaws goalie Caroline Gosling. Rachel Weiss scored another 15 seconds later.
Make the final 6-2 Raiders, claiming the deciding game March 22 in the best-of-3 AMBFHL South Division final at Cochrane Arena. The team is made up of 14/15-year-old female hockey players from Rocky View communities like Cochrane, Okotoks and Indus.
“Actually, this group has been one of those groups where the kids have a huge resolve,” said Raiders head coach Jordan Fenton outside his team’s dressing room. “We’ve done that on numerous occasions where the goal the other team has just scored hasn’t even been announced when we’re answering back. It’s true. That’s not something you coach into them. It’s something they have, it’s a resolve they have – a team dynamic.”
Rocky Mountain’s Game 3 rebound followed a 2-0 Game 2 loss March 21 in Calgary, the Outlaws tying the series after Raiders won Game 1 5-1 March 20. Raiders had to win to advance to the league final against North Division winner Edmonton Lightning, which beat Lloydminster in the North.
“We had to win today. We really wanted it,” related Raiders forward Megan Campbell of Cochrane, who assisted on three Raiders goals in Game 3. “We came back with two goals in the span of like a minute. That was pretty awesome.”
Considering the Raiders took three third-period penalties and 11 in the final South game, their penalty-kill had to be sharp.
“You just have to make sure you’re getting the puck and getting it out,” said Raiders forward Jessica Martens of Cochrane. “It is kind of hard to play the third period with someone in the box. But I think we did a really good job.”
When not killing penalties, defenceman Kyla Kruger of Cochrane was on the lookout for Calgary’s forwards hitting the gaps at even strength.
“You just have to watch that they’re not sneaking in behind you,” Kruger cautioned. “They have a few main players who hang high, you just have to watch them and make sure they’re not open.”
With the AMBFHL South won, Raiders face Edmonton for the league championship.
“We played Edmonton twice and had really close games with them both times,” coach Fenton said of the Lightning team Raiders split the regular season with (3-2 November home win and 5-3 December loss in Edmonton.) “They have a strong team game and really solid goaltending. But, once again, if our girls play the way they’ve been playing I like our chances.”
