In my day, they used to say a tied hockey game is like kissing your sister. In this case, for the U13 AA Female Panthers, it would be like kissing your brother! Either way, a tie game for the Lakeland Panthers after losing their last two games by one goal and being down by one late in the third period of this one would feel more like a win to them.

The Lakeland Panthers hosted the Edmonton Blue Ice at the A. G. Ross Arena this past Sunday. The game ended in a two-all tie. The girls were happy getting a single point after they played their hearts out in this one and outshot the Ice 38 to 27 by the end of the game.

Right off the opening faceoff, the Panthers came out like gangbusters and outshot the Ice 18 to 5 by the end of the first period. Panthers centre Kaleigha ‘Mama’ Dion potted her eighth goal of the year on the power play late in the first period, assisted by Morgan ‘Sinner’ Oomen and Tessianna Shirt.

In the second period, the Panthers had tons of trouble getting out of their own end. At times, it seemed they had very little energy and were desperately clinging to the one-goal lead. They didn’t even seem to have enough strength to ice the puck. The Ice, who easily outshot the Panthers in the second period, tied the game at one-all.

Who knows what the coaches told the Panthers during the second intermission? Or maybe they drank some special fluid. Whatever it was, it worked like a charm. Into the third period, the Panthers found their wind again, and the play was almost always in the Ice end of the rink. Except for one play, when the leading scorer on the Ice broke free on a wide-open breakaway and scored on a nice wrist shot to give the Ice a 2 to 1 lead.

Looking like déjà vu all over again this week, but the Panthers were determined not to surrender and throw in the towel. Instead, they pressured the Ice with shots, and it paid off in the end. Defenceman Maggie ‘Mugzy’ Mahé would score her first goal of the year on the power play, assisted by her defensive partner Maja ‘Pinchy’ Pinch and the rugged centre Vienna ‘The Bug’ Colbourne.

With the game tied at two-all and eight minutes left in the third period, both teams battled right to the bitter end. Winger Aspyn ‘Machine Gun Kelly’ just missed the target on a wrist shot very late in the game that would have given the Panthers the lead. The goaltending was stellar at both ends of the rink. Panthers netminder Jayvrie Houle was outstanding once again this week, and she had a lot of help in this game from her defencemen Avery Doody, Mila ‘Moose’ Moosewah-Littlechild, Baylee Brunet and Mia Chappell, who all played awesome, clearing the front of the net so she could pick up the sight of the puck coming in. Great pressure on the forecheck also in this game by forwards Aubrey Scanie, Brenna ‘Mighty Mouse’ Brunet and Grace ‘Chucky’ Manson, all of whom created many turnovers and peppered the Ice goaltender.

AS SHE SHOULD 😤🧱👀
Player of the Game: Jayvrie Houle
Goalie said “nope” all game. Big saves, calm under pressure, locked in like a brick wall with vibes. When the heat was on, she stood on business.
Net = protected. Panthers = proud. 🐆💥 #PanthersPride #AFHL #POTG

This coming week, the Panthers will be in Lac La Biche for two home games, hosting the Edmonton Ice on Saturday and the Wood Buffalo Huskies on Sunday.