Fire burn Cyclones in Lethbridge

Three in one

It was a quick turnaround from the game versus Red Deer in Penhold yesterday. A trip south down the QEII highway to play Lethbridge Cyclones at Henderson Park Ice Centre, in Lethbridge. As the only team to have beaten Calgary Fire White in regular time this season, the Windy City side must have fancied their chances to take more points off the leaders of the Alberta Female Hockey League (Bantam Elite).

But Calgary Fire White got off to a strong start with three goals in the first period and never looked back. Sarah Gaiser was the first to strike. Hailey Wiltshire was next, then she scored again with one minute remaining.

Blue line surprise shot

The Cyclones struck back seven minutes after the interval. Megan Draffin wellied* a shot from the right-hand side of the blue line and the puck rang off the crossbar and into the net, surprising Fire goalie, Ali Kieren. The Fire Girls kept their three-goal lead though when Payton Evans snuck into the blue paint and drove the puck in.

*Technical term from Yorkshire for a well-hit shot, derived from Wellington Boots.

Two from Bierd

Fire White continued to dominate play into the final period with extensive fore-checking and a defensive line that kept pushing the play back into the Lethbridge zone. Mia Bierd picked up two goals, the last one a beautiful individual move that began in her own half, sweeping through the defense and stroking a blow high at the Cyclones goalie. Piper Slezak looked as though she had saved the shot but the puck hit the top of her stick and edged in just beneath the cross-bar.

Final score: Lethbridge Cyclones 1 – 6 Calgary Fire White

Song of the Match

Three stars go a latino selection today. The timing was perfect too: Jennifer Nixon put in a fierce, but fair check that knocked her opponent over. And over the PA came J-Lo’s (Jennifer Lopez) song Let’s Get Loud. Enjoy the live, kicking horse version. Que dulce!

Up next

Play gets paused until February 10, when Calgary Fire White visits High River once more to play the Rocky Mountain Raiders at the Bob Snodgrass Recreation Complex.  See you after the winter equinox!

More action from the game

For more photos from the game please follow this link to J. Ashley Nixon Communication