The Penhold Amazons have registered their second consecutive shutout with a 2-0 win over the Sherwood Park Steele in a hard fought game at the Penhold Regional Multiplex on Nov. 29.
Hitting the ice against the fourth-place Sherwood Park Steele, the teams played a steady game with good defence on both sides of the blue-line with the first good scoring opportunity for the Amazons coming in the 15th minute of the first period on a breakaway. An Amazons two-on-one opportunity was stonewalled by Steele goalie Kylie Werstiuk and a penalty ended the first frame.
As the game progressed, the aggressive play and shot taking by the Steele, who led the shot count for most of the first period, fell prey to the Amazons snipers who by the end of the game outshot their opponents 42-18.
After the first frame, the Steele was outshot 31-11 in their loss as the home team notched up its play.
“Our girls scored their goals on the same shift within 30 seconds by Stacey Duncan and Kelsey Mastel against strong goaltending by the Steele,” said Jill Stadnyk, assistant coach for the Amazons. “They were so focused that they almost hit the back of the net for a third goal in the same shift. That's all we needed to win the game for a second straight shutout.”
The assistant coach added Duncan earned a game misconduct penalty later in the game but it did not alter the result.
“The team has come together very well this season,” said Heather Kirkham, Amazons general manager. “We are a young team with dedicated players and that makes a difference in the way they interact with each other, and while we were competitive last year this team has bonded extremely well and it shows on the ice.”
Currently standing in second place in the South Division of the Alberta Junior Female Hockey Association (AJFHA) behind the Lethbridge Jr. Eagles, the Amazons now have a 10-win and four-loss record. The local squad now holds down third place overall in the Alberta league.
“We have two players in the top 10 scoring -- Kelsey Mastel with seven goals and 11 assists, and Stacey Duncan with 11 goals and two assists,” said Stadnyk. “Our top goalie Nisa Bartlett sits with a 0.954 save percent in seven games and a 1.17 goals against average.”
Stadnyk noted the Amazons play as a team, and every win is a team victory.
Kirkham added the girls are community oriented and give back whenever they can.
“During the recent Nitty Gritty Dirt Band concert in Penhold we provided a large amount of volunteers and helped make the event successful,” said Kirkham, adding the team will be holding a Pub Night at the Hideout in Red Deer on Jan. 10. “We get great support from the community and in turn, we want to give the same back.”
The Amazons' South Division also includes the Calgary Titans and Warriors, the Lethbridge Jr. Eagles and the Medicine Hat Hockey Hounds. The North Division includes the Edmonton Wolves, the Irma Chargers, the Fort Saskatchewan Fury, the Thorsby Thunder and the Sherwood Park Steele.
More information on the team can be found at http://www.hometeamsonline.com under the Amazons.
Heather Kirkham
"We are a young team with dedicated players and that makes a difference in the way they interact with each other, and while we were competitive last year this team has bonded extremely well and it shows on the ice."
