NAIT Ooks Hockey: Women’s – SAIT Trojans @ NAIT Ooks

Game Story:

Currently, the NAIT Ooks are firing on all cylinders. To say this team is red hot would be the biggest understatement in 2018. Let’s put their recent stretch of hockey in perspective:

In January, this team went 4-2-0, scoring 16 goals in the six games. In just four games this month, the Ooks have scored 26 goals! Twenty-six! Their 6.50 goals per game, coupled with a sparkling 1.25 goals against average, give them a 4-0-0 record this month. Incredible!

*Note: The statistics above also include Saturday’s 4-0 win over SAIT.

The Ooks improved their home record to 8-3-0 and 18-3-1 overall. Kaitlyn Whaley and Alyssa Bertucca were big contributors from the back-end, both recording multi-point nights. Whaley skated away with the ACAC’s Player of the Game Award thanks to her two-point night (1G, 1A). The Manitoba product is one of the best offensive defenseman in the league, utilizing her tremendous skating to join the rush while also taking care of her zone.

Bertucca recorded two assists, her first two points of her ACAC career, and was stellar on both sides of the puck. Alyssa’s game has really taken off since being paired with Carlin Boey, forming NAIT’s top defensive pair recently. The Barrie, Ontario native will continue to improve as she gets more minutes down the stretch.

“It feels good to finally get on the scoresheet. I think we’re all pretty in sync. In practices, we’ve been working pretty hard and it all comes together when the game comes around,” says Bertucca following the 7-1 win.

Alica Mihalikova and Kendra Hanson also recorded multi-point nights (all assists) with three and two, respectively. Both players have been fantastic for Deanna Martin’s club. The “Game Notes” below will feature both forwards.

While the aforementioned players enjoyed solid outings, Friday’s game featured balanced scoring for the NAIT Ooks. Seven different Ooks found the goal column in the seven-goal outing:

Alex Reiter, Kaitlyn Whaley (GWG), Brittney Savard, Verca Kuzelova, Megan Leblanc, Hayley Douglas & Davina McLeod.

Tara Bouvette stopped 22 shots in the winning effort, her seventh win this season. Bouvette did go on to win her eighth on Saturday night, sweeping the Trojans on back-to-back nights.

Game Notes:

• After a scoreless January, Alica Mihalikova has been dynamite in back-to-back outings. The left-wing Business Administration student has been all business since the calendar turned over:
  • January: 6GP, 0G, 0A, 0 PTS
  • February: 3GP, 3G, 4A, 7 PTS
• Kendra Hanson‘s hot play continues. Friday night marked Hanson’s eighth multi-point effort this season, leading the ACAC in the category. She also paces the league in points (25) and assists (12) while trailing teammate Verca Kuzelova in goals by just one.
• NAIT has four of the top-five scorers in the ACAC. The well-balanced scoring of the Ooks has been instrumental to their success this season.ACAC Points Leaders
  • 1. Kendra Hanson (NAIT): 12G, 13A, 25 PTS
  • 2. Verca Kuzelova (NAIT): 13G, 6A, 19 PTS
  • 3. Carlin Boey (NAIT): 5G, 12A, 17 PTS
  • 4. Carley Jewell (GMU): 5G, 12A, 17 PTS
  • 5. Megan Leblanc (NAIT): 9G, 7A, 16 PTS
• Thirty-nine of the 80 Ooks goals this season have come directly from the four players above (48.75%).
• Defenseman Kaitlyn Whaley established new career highs in goals, assists and points Friday night. The fifth-year player wears the “A” for the Ooks and brings more than just offensive prowess to the Ooks’ defensive core.

It’s the final weekend of the ACAC regular season and the Ooks take on the Red Deer College Queens in a home-and-home series. The Ooks lead the season series 3-1.

February 15: @ RDC (7:00PM)

February 17: @ NAIT (6:00PM)