© J. Ashley Nixon
15th win to close out 2017
Calgary Fire White notched up their 15th win of the season against Edmonton Pandas on Sunday to close out 2017 as clear leaders in the Alberta Female Hockey League (Bantam Elite). The travelers started well at Bill Hunter Arena, Edmonton putting pressure on the netminder with several rushes. Fire White opened the scoring after nine minutes with their first power play of the game. Payten Evans slapped a splendid, strong pass from the left side face-off circle towards the net picked up by Sarah Gaiser, who beat the Pandas goalie, Mabel Maltais glove side. The Pandas equalized five minutes later when Brenna Reid picked up an errant pass out front from Fire White goalie, Ali Kieren to score unassisted.
Pandas caged
It took just over a minute of the second period for Fire White to regain the lead. Hailey Wiltshire stickhandled the puck in from the left face-off circle to just behind the goal line, turned and shot over Maltais’s glove. Fire White dominated the play for the remainder of the period, caging the Pandas into their half for much of the time, in part due to their four penalty infractions. Repeatedly the Pandas resorted to relieving pressure by icing the puck.
Halfway through the final period, the result was secured for the visitors when defenseman Gracie Gilkyson struck a hard shot from the blue line that beat the goalie over her glove-side shoulder.
Final score: Edmonton Pandas 1-3 Calgary Fire White.
Up next: Take a break, have a KitKat and come back to the 2018 part of the season starting January 6 with Fire White’s game in High River versus the Rocky Mountain Raiders.
Song of the match
Poker Face by Lady Gaga (2009) got played at the beginning and end of the game, so that’s my song of the match and a video for dog lovers and appreciators of creative lyrics (I’m bluffing with my muffin).
More action from the game
For more photos from the game please visit J. Ashley Nixon Communications.
Go to Fire White TV to see the game recording and listen to Peter Kieren’s excellent commentary.
NixonScan 
Sounds like “Poker Face” was an apt song!
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Yes, it fitted the game pretty well.
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