STIX player Kaelyn Cwik recovers from her crash into the net. Action from the game between Calgary Team Stix AA and Lakeland Lightning AA in the Canada Cup West in Kelowna, BC, Canada.
© J. Ashley Nixon
Coach Dale Risling called this one an “If you win, you’re in” game. By that, he meant two points were required for the Calgary Team STIX Elite Female Bantam AA to progress to the semi-finals of the Canada Cup West. For two periods it was not at all clear how this would turn out as both the STIX and the Lakeland Lightning competed for the puck and moved things along in controlled fashion. Except for the crash into the net by Kaelyn Cwik. That one clearly hurt the STIX forward.
STIX player Chyenne Risling on her way to the net. Action from the game between Calgary Team Stix AA and Lakeland Lightning AA in the Canada Cup West in Kelowna, BC, Canada.
© J. Ashley Nixon
Four minutes into the final period defenseman Chyenne Risling skated down the left wing and just kept going, and going, to crash the puck into the net.
Chyenne Risling scores the first goal for the STIX AA in the game versus Lakeland Lightning AA in the Canada Cup West in Kelowna, BC, Canada.
© J. Ashley Nixon
Chyenne Risling scores for the STIX AA in their game against Lakeland Lightning AA in the Canada Cup West in Kelowna, BC, Canada.
© J. Ashley Nixon
The STIX celebration was brief though. Immediately from the face off, the Lightning drove to the net and drove the STIX goalie in there too with the puck. The video judges in Toronto, had they been watching, might have waived that one off. In their absence, the score went through and it was 1-1.
Another STIX player crashed into the net. This time it was Grace Crooks, wearing #4 who went in hard and had to take a few moments to regather herself.
STIX player, Grace Crooks also crashes the net during the game versus Lakeland Lightning AA in the Canada Cup West in Kelowna, BC, Canada.
© J. Ashley Nixon
The next STIX goal came just over a minute later, scored by #22 Quinn Cavanagh. It was quite a few moments before the Lightning goalie picked up the courage to venture out of her cave.
Quinn Cavanagh scores the second STIX AA goal in their game against Lakeland Lightning AA in the Canada Cup West in Kelowna, BC, Canada.
© J. Ashley Nixon
The Lightning goalie retreats into her net. Action from the game between Calgary Team STIX AA and Lakeland Lightning AA in the Canada Cup West in Kelowna, BC, Canada.
© J. Ashley Nixon
With just over six minutes to go, Rachelle Plum put one more onto the scoresheet for the STIX.
Rachelle Plum scores the third goal for the STIX. Action from the game between Calgary Team STIX AA and Lakeland Lightning AA in the Canada Cup West in Kelowna, BC, Canada.
© J. Ashley Nixon
Seconds later, Chyenne Risling topped an excellent game with her second goal, shot in from inside the blue line on the left side.
Chyenne Risling celebrates her second goal with her STIX teammates. Action from the game between Calgary Team STIX AA and Lakeland Lightning AA in the Canada Cup West in Kelowna, BC, Canada.
© J. Ashley Nixon
Final score: Calgary Team STIX 4-1 Lakeland Lightning.
Coach Dale knows, the STIX are “in” on Sunday.
Calgary Team STIX celebrate their win. Action from the game between Calgary Team STIX AA and Lakeland Lightning AA in the Canada Cup West in Kelowna, BC, Canada.
© J. Ashley Nixon
