Strong goaltending and excellent support from the net out helped the Estevan Power Dodge bantam A Chargers to a 5-2 win over the Regina Blues at the Civic Auditorium on Sunday.
“We’re starting to work together more and we’ve picked up our game since we last played them,” said Chargers defenceman Karleigh Mackenzie, referring to a 6-1 home loss to the Blues when the teams last played each other two months ago. “We’ve found our positions and where we need to be.”
Mackenzie helped the Chargers to a 1-0 lead four minutes into the first period blasting a shot from a few feet inside the blueline that handcuffed Blues goalie Kallie Colwell. Chargers right wing Keara Merriman scored her first goal of the season a little over a minute-and-a-half later on a shot just inside the post from the bottom of the circle.
After Blues forward Kailey Halstead brought her team to within one four-and-a-half minutes into the second period, Chargers winger Jaycee Mclellan and Mackenzie went to work with each providing a reply late in the frame to make the score 4-1 by the second intermission.
Chargers centre Bailey Farr added to the lead just over a minute into the third period by driving down the wing before slicing into the middle and firing a shot top corner. Blues forward McKenna Nameth found the back of Chargers goaltender Devan Fayle’s net with five minutes remaining to finish off the scoring.
The Chargers (5-11) win over the Blues (4-11-3) was the team’s fourth victory in their past six games. Included among those four wins were 5-3 and 2-1 defeats of the South Saskatchewan Female Hockey League’s top ranked Yorkton Gardon Crushers at home on Dec. 16 and 17.
“In terms of wins and losses we had a slow start,” said Chargers assistant coach Mike Merriman. “We played a lot of top end teams and we just needed to get experience and confidence.”
Merriman said the team will continue to practise keeping their legs moving at all times and winning the one-on-one battles with a hope the hard work will help the club continue to build on their mid-season success. With seven of their final eight games on the road, Merriman said if the other teams want the puck the Chargers plan on making them earn it.
“We just got to stay focused,” added Mackenzie, “and play our own game.”
