The Barrhead Midget Blackhawks found great success over the weekend, as they faced and conquered Fort Saskatchewan in a shutout game Sunday, Nov. 11.
The girls got themselves some time in the penalty box before they managed to score, with an interference penalty 14 minutes into the game. The first period didn’t see any scoring action until the last minute and a half when, with one player in the penalty box, Janelle Roach shot the puck into the net for a shorthanded goal.
The girls were up 1-0 at the end of the first period, and had three penalties under their belt for interference and body checking.
It didn’t take Barrhead much time in the second period to show the crowd some action. Just three minutes in another Blackhawk was caged in the penalty box, leaving the team shorthanded again.
However, one less player couldn’t stop the girls’ determination. Morgan Melzer powered down the ice and slipped the puck into the net unassisted to put Barrhead up 2-0.
Four other penalties for a hit to the head, slashing, and body checking gave Fort Saskatchewan an advantage in the second period, but the Blackhawk’s opponents were unable to score.
With less than two minutes left in the second, Melzer scored her second goal of the game, assisted by teammates Roach and Shonda Rossman. This gave Barrhead their third and final goal of the game.
After a goalless third period, the Blackhawks skated off the ice with a final winning score of 3-0. Goalie Jordan Adams could return to the locker room happily, having recorded her third shutout of the season.
Coach Lee Abernathy said the girls let Fort Saskatchewan get under their skin, and wound up in the penalty box many times. However, the team was able to fend off their opponents with great success, even when shorthanded.
“Overall we played a fairly good game, we just have to learn to take a slash or crosscheck and skate away more,” said Abernathy. “There was a couple the girls took that I honestly understand why they retaliated.”
