Three-way tie

Times Reporter

 

The Strathmore Storm Bantam B ladies stepped up their game for the Provincial Championship in Brooks March 13-15.

Unfortunately a tie-breaking procedure cost them a chance at moving on.

Though the team had a 3-1 record through the round robin, they were tied three ways with Red Deer and Fort Saskatchewan for first in the pool. Strathmore’s goal differential was not as tight in comparison to the other two teams, who were able to continue to playoffs.

“That was a tough one,” Storm coach Doug Pagenkoph said. 

All three teams finished with the same record, and six points. Strathmore had 16 goals for and 10 against, while Red Deer had 18 for but four against, and Fort Saskatchewan had 10 for and three against.

“They couldn’t have given any more. We just couldn’t pull her through,” Pagenkoph said.

One standout was Haylea Crone for the Storm, who led the team with eight points in four games.

“Her play was outstanding. She’s been great all year,” Pagenkoph said. “She’s been one of our main leaders. She’s done really well.”

The rest of Crone’s teammates also made their shots count; the Storm had the highest team scoring efficiency, with 19 per cent of their shots finding the back of the net.

“I guess the quality of shots were good ones. We tried to get good quality than forcing,” Pagenkoph said.

Their first game of Provincials was a 4-0 win over the Calgary Avalanche on March 13. Brittney Sheller was named the Strathmore player of the game, also earning the shutout. 

Against the Lethbridge Hurricanes on March 14, the Storm dominated 8-1. Crone, player of the game, had two goals, as did Hanna Gallant. The squad put 36 shots on goal to Lethbridge’s 15.

The next day, the girls won 3-2 over Fort Saskatchewan in the morning, with Yulisa Solda scoring the game winner at the beginning of the third, but lost in the afternoon 7-1 to the Red Deer Chiefs. Crone scored the lone unassisted goal. Strathmore only had four less shots than Red Deer, and eventually changed from Larissa Hiebert in net to Brittney Sheller, but it was too late.

“We lost our focus at the start of that game. By the time we had regained the focus in the third, we’d dug ourselves deep,” Pagenkoph said. “They gave everything they had in that third period.”