Ooks fly past Broncos
A four-goal first period was more than enough for the Ooks, who cruised to victory.
Olds College Sports Information
January 17, 2019
OLDS, Alta. - The NAIT Ooks made a lot of noise in the first period, scoring four times in the opening 20 minutes en route to a 6-0 victory over the Olds College Broncos at the Olds Sportsplex on Thursday.
Megan Leblanc paced the NAIT attack with two goals and two assists, while Verca Kuzelova, Jenn Gaeckle, Jordan McMillan and Kylin Ziemmer also scored. Kaitlyn Slator made 18 saves to earn the shutout for the Ooks (12-2-1).
Tori Eilers and Lexi Bruce combined to make 17 saves for the Broncos (5-9-1), who were hosting the first of three Olds College Make Some Noise for Mental Health games.
NAIT broke the ice just over six minutes into the opening frame, as a breakout play in the neutral zone resulted in Leblanc springing Kuzelova, who tucked it five-hole on Eilers to make it 1-0 for the Ooks.
NAIT extended its lead to two just over halfway through the frame, as a bouncing puck got past the Broncos defence. Gaeckle won the foot race, then found a hole under Eilers' blocker to make it 2-0.
The Ooks added to their lead with powerplay goals from McMillan and Ziemmer 58 seconds apart to push the advantage to four through the opening 20 minutes.
Leblanc added both her goals in the second period, first beating Bruce on a deke midway through the frame, before finishing off the scoring with just over a minute left as she cut back into the slot and beat Bruce high to cement player of the game honours for the Ooks.
For the Broncos, forward Brekell Otto was named The Pit BBQ Player of the Game.
It's a quick turnaround for both teams, as the Broncos will travel north to battle the Ooks in Edmonton on Friday at 7 p.m.