Milestone Dominates Play In Hard Fought Win Against Regina
Photos and Story by Robert Thomas
MILESTONE, SK - It may have started out slow with the hometown Milestone U 18A Female Flyers unable to score but changes in momentum led to the Flyers battling to a 7 - 1 victory over the visiting Regina Rebels on Friday evening.
First Period
Playing in front of about 125 fans the Flyers dominated the first period of play with over 17 minutes of the action on the Regina Rebels end of the ice.
It was a period where the Flyers had a series of weak shots but were unable to get any wood on the shots.
The best shot of the period came from former Moose Jaw Mavericks product Kaleigh McCann who stepped in from the blue line and fired a wicked wristhand just over the Rebels net.
The Rebels were able to put pressure on the Flyers in the final minute of the period but ran out of time when the buzzer sounded.
MilestOne Flyers forward Jordan vermeulen was the team's standout for the first 25 minutes - mj independent photo
Second Period
The second period saw a seemingly revitalized Regina Rebels who regained the momentum and pressed into the Flyers zone.
The pressure resulted in Yuyue Zhu scoring at the 17:44 mark with a hard shot close up upper corner of the net with Flyers’ netminder Kamrie Kaufmann having no chance of saving. The assist went to McKenna Weatherald.
Immediately after the ensuing face off the Rebels grabbed the momentum and skated into the Flyers end of the ice.
With the Rebels pressuring Kaufmann came up with a major save at the 17:15 mark.
Following the Kaufmann save the momentum started to shift back to the Flyers with the hometeam's Jordan Vermeulen leading the team in pressuring the Rebels.
During a powerplay Vermeulen would be assessed a coincidental roughing minor and while sitting out the penalty her Flyers teammates would start to play aggressive to fill the void.
The Rebels would once again pressure Kaufmann but once again she came up with a key save.
Milestone would then shift the momentum as their fourth line opened the scoring.
The Flyers would use the Milestone Arena's ice behind the net to their advantage as Jayda Donison skated behind the Rebels net and in the resultant play Kiana Hrecka would score at the 5:55 mark.
The floodgates of Flyers goals erupted.
Milestone Flyers Goaltender kamrie Kaufmann makes a key save on a pile up in the crease - mj independent photo
The Flyers Jesse Mielke would break in on the Rebels goal with Cara Farris picking up the puck and while behind Regina Rebels netminder Jadah Trask would knock the Puck into the net at the 4:14 mark.
The Flyers would buzz the Rebels net at the 2:10 mark with Mielke scoring. Assists went to Alexa Materi and Vermeulen.
Kaufmann would again come up big with a massive save on an incredible shot at the 1:14 mark preventing the Rebels from drawing to within one goal.
With the momentum still on their side the Flyers would head down ice and after a rebound, hitting the post and with 58.3 seconds left Jordan Terry poked the puck across the goal line. The assist went to Faris.
Milestone Flyers Jessie Mielke had a three point night - mj independent photo
Third Period
The third period saw the Flyers strike with their fifth goal of the game within the first minute.
Mielke would score in close at the 19:05 mark assisted by Vermeulen.
Milestone's sixth goal would be the Flyer's prettiest with Moose Jaw's Brooklyn Hrynikiw skating out from the right corner and taking a strong backhand shot which was picked up by Kaleigh McCann who scored at 17:49.
The other assist went to Allison Duncan.
The final goal went to Kalla Nicholas who scored on the power play with a strong point shot at 16:16.
Assists went to Vermeulen and Allison Duncan.
Unofficial Three Stars According To MJ Independent
First Star - Jesse Mielke (stepping up in key plays)
Second Star - Kamrie Kaufmann (three stellar and key saves in the second period)
Third Star - Jordyn Vermeulen (leadership on the ice)
Honorable Mention - Regina Rebels’ netminder Jadah Trask (stopping the Flyers on numerous great shots)
Fkyers forward Cara Faris knocks the Puck into the Regina rebels’ net for milestone's second goal - Mj independent photo
Coaches’ Comments
“It took us awhile to put the puck in the net. We had lots of opportunities but we just couldn't connect,” Shane Kaufmann head coach of the Milestone Flyers said in the post game interview.
Asked about Jordyn Vermeulen who was given an offset minor for roughing and how her absence had sparked the team to step up Kaufmann said it was a good assessment of what happened.
“Sometimes you have just got to rally the troops a little,” Kaufmann said.
About the goaltending co-coach Darrell Perras said “they’re both good goalies…she (Regina netminder Jadah Trask) made some great saves tonight.”
“Both goalies played really well,” Kaufmann said.
“The TSN turning point of the game was when our fourth line grinders did the wrap around and we scored,” he said.
The great ice at the Milestone Arena as well as more reactive boards makes the area behind the nets more playable than many other rinks.
Although the number of people at the game was down about 25 people from the home opener for the second home game of the season the coaches said it was nice to have a good crowd attend.
Both expect the numbers to grow as the season progresses.
Player's Comments
Milestone Flyers netminder Kamrie Kaufmann gave a couple of comments about the game and her play.
“The second period we played pretty good,” she said.
“Usually after they score a goal our team gets going. And the we score one and we keep rolling and everyone is hyped up.”
She would not take full credit for her play in net but said it was also because of the Flyers defense.
“My defence is pretty good so I wouldn’t be able to stop them without my defence.”
Since MJ Independent attended the Flyers home opener the team has had a 1 - 1 record.
They defeated the Regina Rebels 4 - 1 in the Queen City on December 7th.
And lost to the Prairie Storm Thunder 2 - 1 on December 14th.
The next home game is today at 2 pm when they face the Wood River SWT Ice Cats.