The Estevan Power Tech midget AA Panthers proved they belong among the South Saskatchewan Female Hockey League (SSFHL) elite this weekend.
The Panthers (4-0-1) fought back to earn a 1-1 tie against the Regina Capitals (2-0-1) in their first road game of the season on Saturday at the Co-operators Centre before knocking off the defending SSFHL champion Regina Ravens 4-1 at Affinity Place on Sunday.
“We’re doing really good,” said Panthers centre Karli Colpitts. “If we keep working hard we could come out on top.”
Colpitts got the Panthers off to a hot start against the Ravens (1-2) slamming home a Kenzie Balon rebound five hole on Regina goalie Ryleigh Carson 2:59 into the game. The Ravens battled back using their up-front speed to get to the net quickly in search of a rebound off shots from the point courtesy of their defence only to find Estevan netminder Morgan Fayle wasn’t surrendering any second chances.
Both the Panthers and Ravens generated opportunities in the second period including Regina forward Sophia Buckberger ringing a shot off the post six minutes into the frame while her club enjoyed sustained presence in the Estevan zone. Panthers forward Michaella Matthies replied with a chance of her own five minutes later driving to the net and firing a shot at the low corner only to have Carson spring out a pad to make the save.
A penalty kill early into the third period where the Panthers forced the Ravens to the outside not allowing them to create any real opportunities seemed to give the home side the momentum. Estevan forward Jasynn Monteyne capitalized on the surge burying the puck on a jam play off an offensive zone faceoff with 6:46 remaining to put the Panthers up 2-0.
Colpitts notched the third goal while short handed into an empty net at the 17:21 mark only to have Raven Brook Holt reply a minute and a half later. Not to be outdone, the veteran Panthers forward potted the hat trick with 54 seconds remaining in the game to finish off the scoring.
“I was just in the right position at the right time,” said Colpitts. “Me and my teammates kind of click well together, so we’re pretty good at passing and stuff like that.”
The Panthers will welcome the Ravens back to town for a rematch this Friday. Colpitts said if they continue to work hard for the lucky bounces and come out with a team effort they should be able to once again match the opposition’s intensity.
“I expect them to come out strong and want to beat us because they are one of the top teams in the league,” she said. “They want to win it, so we’re going to have to just keep fighting back.”
