Flyers Lose Tight Checking Affair - photo feature game
Photos and Story by Robert Thomas
Slip sliding away
Kamrie Kaufmann shuts down a Fillies forward on the doorstep
Milestone SK - If you were asked to describe Friday evening’s Game One between the Milestone U18 A Female Flyers and East Central Fillies in one word it would be easy.
And that word would be “Wow”.
Wow to the players who somehow never showed fatigue during almost 70 minutes of play.
Knocked down but still trying to make a goal
Wow for the Flyers who, when they were down after the first period, found the wherewithal to find not one but two gears in their attack.
Behind the net
Wow for the almost 500 fans who came out to watch the final series and the fight for the Saskatchewan Female Hockey League’s U18 A provincial championship.
Wow on the goaltending from both keepers who likely played their best games of the season.
Flyers goal
And finally wow could it be any louder in the Milestone Memorial Rink?
Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow…,
FIRST PERIOD
The first period saw the Flyers come out a little flat finding themselves time and again dismissed by the Fillies menacing defence.
The Fillies were first to hit the scoreboard at the 6:28 when Payton Crone scored with a long wrist hand through traffic.
The puck found twine high glove side on Flyers goalie Kamrie Kaufmann.
SECOND PERIOD
The Flyers came out much stronger in the second period challenging and often beating the Fillies along the boards.
At 15:32 Jessie Mielke would loop from right to left and beat Fillies goalie Allie Edwards on the backhand.
The score after two periods was tied 1 - 1.
THIRD PERIOD
The third period started with the Flyers on the power play but despite pulling out everything including the concession’s kitchen sinks they were unable to score.
The Flyers shot just over and just wide of the net.
The Flyers forwards made stunning plays up close only to be knocked down or unable to get proper wood on the puck.
OVERTIME
Overtime found the Flyers with too many players on the ice and the penalty would be costly.
With the puck deep in on the right wing Taylor Wasylenko passed the puck out to Meilika Ehart who beat Kaufmann on the left hand side of the net at 1:37.
The Fillies won 2 - 1.
Just wide outside the post
“The girls have put in a good effort throughout all of the playoffs,” Flyers assistant coach Darrell Perras told MJ Independent in the post game interview.
Perras said all of the Flyers are putting in an extra effort with it being the playoffs.
Just wide over the net
“Everybody is battling. Every single shift,” he said.
“There is no time to be tired now.”
On the efforts of Flyers goalie Kamrie Kaufmann - who made some stupendous saves - he said she was having a game as good as the efforts against Balcarres.
A Fillies player draws a penalty
Flyers head coach Shane Kaufmann said the Flyers had plenty of good opportunities but “they couldn’t get a stick on it.”
Asked about the easily 400 plus fans in the rink he said it was highly appreciated.
Sprawling near the blue line
Perras said Friday evenings at 8 pm have turned into a local tradition.
“Friday evenings at 8 pm in Milestone are the best hockey experience in hockey,” Perras said.
Unable to get a stick on the puck for the winning goal
The Flyers will continue to work at winning the battles at the blue line and getting the puck in deep as they did in the Southern Division championship series against the Balcarres Baracudas.
Both coaches are confident the Flyers will be back for game three championship win in Milestone this Tuesday.
The Flyers huddle together at the end of the warmups
Game Two is Sunday March 26 at 4:30 pm at Leroy.
Game Three, if necessary, is Tuesday March 28 at Milestone.
