Mavericks Win Home Opener Against Regina

By Robert Thomas

If you simply looked at the scoresheet the Moose Jaw Bantam A Mavericks should have lost the game. They were outshot 42 to 20 and took some late third period penalties which should have meant a certain defeat. But in the end the win could best be summed up to three things - a great aggressive penalty kill, skill and goaltender Sara Umana.

The pee wee aged goaltender stopped shot after quality shot many of them which appeared to be certain goals backstopping the Mavericks to a 5 - 3 win over the visiting Regina Rebels.

First Period

Regina opened the scoring at the 19:04 mark of the first period when Madison Franklin skated in front of the Mavericks goal and scored an unassisted marker from close in.

Despite not scoring first Moose Jaw responded with their own unassisted goal at the 9/:49 mark when Jenika Stevenson took a long sharp angle shot from the right wing beating Regina netminder Jadah Trask.

A late period penalty for body contact by the Rebels Amelia Dorlon with less than ten seconds left in the first period would lead to a Mavericks goal with 1.9 seconds left in the period.

Morgan Loney would score on a wrist hand from the left wing assists going to Danika Tonge and Chantel Howe.

The Mavericks Morgan Loney during first period action - MJ Independent photo

Second Period

The Mavericks would add to their lead at the 18:44 mark of the second period when Kaydance Ray would get in close to the Regina goal and score an unassisted marker.

Moose Jaw would add to their lead at the 10:59 mark when Kiana Hrechka sitting on Regina’s doorstep would score on a behind the net centering pass from Brinnagh McKean. Also assisting was Allison Duncan.

Regina however would respond after a close in sharp angle shot by Amelia Dorion left the puck sitting on the goal line Umana. Rushing in Ryann Buckner would get a stick on the puck and push it past the goal line at 1:34 mark.

The Mavericks Kattryna Mattern jostles with the Rebels Brei-Ann Brass in front of netminder Sara Umana - MJ Independent photo

Third Period

The Rebels would dominate the early stages of the third period with quality shot after quality shot on Umana.

The persistent pressure would lead to the third Rebels goal when Franklin would score her second unassisted goal at the 13L28 mark. The goal came as a result of several shots on Umana while sitting on the doorstep.

Jenika Stevenson steals the puck from two Regina defenders before breaking in to score a shorthanded goal - MJ Independent photo

Umana would come up big in the third period as the Rebels failed to score on several quality shots.

Despite the seemingly continual pressure from the Rebels the Mavericks excelled with an aggressive penalty kill. The two highlights in the second half of the third period was the home team killing off a two player advantage and scoring a shorthanded goal.

Stevenson would score her second unassisted goal after stealing the puck in the neutral zone and then outskating two Regina players wristhanding a shot behind Trask.

Jenika Stevenson watches as a shot goes off a Rebels defender’s skate and away from the Regina goal - MJ Independent photo

Post Game Interview

“We are just starting to mesh together” Mavericks head coach Jeremy Howe said about his squad that herald from Assiniboia, Mossbank, Moose Jaw and surrounding areas. The girls have never played together on the same team before.

Howe, who could not name where all the players hailed from, said despite the team being a regional team they were coming together.

Howe freely admitted the Mavericks came out flat in the first period but he hoped it would be rectified when the Mavericks play the second game of a home and home in Regina (Sunday) in Regina.

Regarding the first period Howe felt the play of goaltender Umana kept the team in the game.

“She was solid maybe our best player today,” he said, adding “we came out of the first period ahead and could have easily been behind.”

Sara Umana faces a Regina player who has gotten behind the defence making another great save - MJ Independent photo

Despite being outshot 42 - 20 Howe felt the two teams were equal to each other.

“I thought we were evenly matched (with Regina). We need a lot of work and improvement.”

About the number of penalties the team drew in the third period he attributed it to a short bench - the team only has 12 skaters - and becoming lazy when tired. The Mavericks were penalized three times in the final ten minutes of the third period which also lead to Regina having a two man advantage.

In their first game last weekend against Weyburn last week the Mavericks took ten penalties.

Howe said in today’s rematch in Regina the Mavericks need to come out better in the first period.

“Hopefully we can get off to a better start in Regina,” he said.