NAIT Ooks Hockey: Women’s – MacEwan @ NAIT

Game Story:

Coming off a bye-week, the NAIT Ooks had to wait a little longer to get into game action. After the national anthem, there was only one thing (well, three) missing from the ice: Zebras. The league had not scheduled any referees for last night’s matchup. True Story.

After an hour-plus delay, a lone official made his way to the NAIT Arena and the game was underway (he would be joined by a second official in the second period).

No matter what time the game starts, Tara Bouvette is always dialed in. Coming off a 25-save shutout two weeks ago (Red Deer College), Bouvette’s athleticism and rebound control is always on full display. The 2nd-year Open Studies student left no openings for the Griffins and improved her record to 5-1-0. She improves her GAA (1.64) & Sv% (.921%) with the win.

The Ooks would rally behind the play of their netminder, with the usual suspects, Verca Kuzelova and Kendra Hanson, both finishing with 1 Goal, 1 Assist tonight.

Julia Wing, while she didn’t find herself on the scoresheet, was also a force all night. The 5’4″ Defenceman utilized her great hockey IQ to deliver great first-passes, get in the Griffins’ shooting lanes and hinder any opportunity the Griffins’ offense had.

Game Notes:

-Kendra Hanson continues a fantastic season, scoring the Ooks third goal tonight, while also adding an assist. The leading scorer in the ACAC (16 Points) has created a little separation between her and Carley Jewell (13 Points). Both battle each other tonight in the second-half of the home-and-home. Hanson has 13 points in her last 8 games.

-Winger Verca Kuzelova continues to have a hot-stick, recording another 2 points (1 Goal, 1 Assist) giving the Czech Republican 7 points in her last 4 games. Kuzelova was dancing tonight; her pure-skill ability is right up there amongst the ACAC’s best.

-Defenseman Kaitlyn Whaley had a whale of a game, picking up two primary assists last night. Both assists came on the Powerplay, as Deanna Martin’s adjustments on the Man-Advantage seems to favour Whaley’s play-making ability from the back-end.

-Captain Carlin Boey was great again tonight. Boey, the number one Defenseman for this Ooks club, is my vote for Defenseman of the Year at this point. With big-time minutes, she provides an elite hockey sense, strength and both offensive and defensive abilities that are tough to match on a nightly basis. Sensational.

-Last year’s ACAC Player of the Year, Sandy Heim, was rock-solid for the Griffins tonight. Despite giving up three goals on 28 shots, the netminder had to stop a handful of ‘Grade A’ chances and was a big reason why the Griffins were only down by one after 40 minutes. With the loss, Heim drops to 6-5-0 on the season.

Post-Game Interviews

Defenseman Carlin Boey

Goaltender Tara Bouvette

Defenseman Julia Wing

Left Wing Davina McLeod

With big implications in the ACAC Standings, the second-place Ooks and first-place Griffins battle it out in the second half of a home-and-home series. Expect Fetch (NAIT) & Bender (GMU) to get the nods tonight.

• January 27: @ GMU (6:00PM)
  Watch: ACAC TV