Flyers Beat Bad Bug And Mavericks To Win Home Opener
By Robert Thomas
Friday night everything seemed out of place at the home opener for the Milestone U18 Female Flyers.
The usual jump in the Flyers at home was devoid with a game that just drug on and on.
Even the people running the score clock didn’t flip the light from the second period to the third period until there was nine minutes left in the game.
But despite the slow grinding night the hometown Milestone U18 Female Flyers were able to defeat the visiting Moose Jaw Carpet One Mavericks 3 - 1.
And no the Flyers weren’t playing baseball the real reason is a large portion of the team was sick.
The Flyers had two opponents out on the ice - the Mavericks and a bad cold.
Milestone Flyers Josephine Sauter tries to out skate Moose Jaw Mavericks Jenkina Stevenson behind the net - mj independent photo
The First Period saw no scoring.
The period could best be described as a silent slow motion affair where what few scoring opportunities there were were in the Flyers favour.
The Second Period saw the Flyers finally get on the scoreboard in what could never be described as a pretty goal.
The Flyers Allison Duncan made a good play to get the puck in on the right wing in front of Mavericks net minder Brinnagh McKean. Eva Harker somehow banged it through a pile up and into the Moose Jaw goal.
Time of the goal was 10:41.
The Mavericks evened the score at the 57.7 second mark when Brooklyn Hrynkiw stole the puck out front of the Flyers net and cleaning beat goalie Amelia Heagy.
The Flyers had a great opportunity in the dying seconds of the period when Emily Quigley got the puck past McKean but a Moose Jaw defender reached back into the net and swept it out on the line.
The goal the wasn’t at the end of the second period - mj independent photo
The Third Period saw the Flyers get their second goal short handed from a sharp angle by Duncan. The unassisted goal came at 17:08.
The Flyers would add the insurance marker on the powerplay at 10:46 on a goal by Eva Harker assisted by Kya Woitas and Korbyn Kautmann.
Milestone Flyers Taylor McPeek lines up a shot - mj independent photo
For Flyers head coach Shane Kaufmann the win isn’t pretty but he will take it. It’s a formula that sees a young club without a loss.
The win extends the Flyers record to a perfect 3 - 0.
While Moose Jaw fall below 500 and are now 2 - 4.
Moose Jaw Mavericks Tayler Smith and Taylor Myers face each other in front of Milestone’s goal - mj independent photo
“I would say we have performed very well. Eight first years and two underage…we’ve done really good.”
Asked what has brought the team together all he could say was “they all get along really well. They all like each other.”
It’s the coaching formula Kaufmann has had during his five years behind the Flyers bench.
A Maverick player (right) is pursued by a Flyers defender - mj independent photo
For new assistant coach Don Sauter the biggest challenge is for the team to improve.
“Every time we hit the ice we need to get better,” Sauter said.
For Kaufmann there really is no challenge as it’s all about chemistry that for the Flyers just comes together.
“If they show up to play hockey and they all get along we can win.”
Kaufmann said the goal this year is to win the league. In the past two seasons the Flyers have been southern champions in the Saskatchewan Female Hockey League only falling in the run for the provincial banner.
Milestone Flyers Kirby’s Kaufmann (left) battles with the Mavericks Julia Wilson for the puck - mj independent photo
Asked about the size and ages of his players Kaufmann said he doesn’t worry about that.
“We were just happy to get by today because we’re under the weather but the first two games were lights out I thought they played awesome.”
Two of the Flyers main players were also away on Friday evening at provincial volleyball finals.
Kaufmann said what makes the Flyers soar is that someone always comes forward just when they’re needed.
“We are just looking forward to another good year.”
