The St. Albert Slash unwrapped an early Christmas present and inside was an invitation to the Mac’s midget AAA female hockey tournament in Calgary.
It’s the perfect gift for the holidays, according to Slash captain Ally Short.
“It's exciting,” said the 17-year-old defenceman. “The pool that we got drawn is actually really good. We have a good chance against everybody and we should make it to the semis.”
The 15-team female division consists of three pools and the Slash plays the Fraser Valley Rush at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Melville Prairie Fire at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Rocky Mountain Raiders at 7:30 p.m. Monday and Lloydminster Steelers at noon Tuesday. All games are at Max Bell Centre.
The semifinals are Thursday and the final is Jan. 1 at noon at the Saddledome.
Visit www.macstournament.ab.ca for results.
The Slash hosted the Raiders (12-3-3), co-leaders in the Alberta Major Midget Female Hockey League, at Go Auto Arena last weekend and the teams battled to a 4-4 draw Friday and the St. Albert squad was victorious 3-2 Saturday.
“It was a real confidence builder. They’re in our pool for the Mac’s and since we beat them now there is confidence going into the tournament knowing that we can beat that team and we do have the talent to work together to put us on top,” Short said.
Last year, the Slash lost only one game at the Mac’s and it was against the championship winner from Saskatoon. After going 2-0-2 in pool play the Slash dropped a 5-2 decision to the Stars in the semifinals.
“We got the wildcard to go into the semis. We lost out but overall it was a good tournament,” Short said. “It was a great experience. The atmosphere is so good. Everybody is together. It’s a really good team bonder too because we’re all so close throughout the whole thing. It’s not like we’re spread out or anything like that. We spend so much time together that we learn to love each other. We’re all sisters by the end of it.”
The Slash (6-10-5) are slotted sixth in the AMMFHL standings, 10 points back of the Raiders and three ahead of the eighth-place Steelers (6-10-2), after going 1-2-1 in December.
“This season is kind of a rebuilding year. Last year we had a lot of vets and this year it’s kind of half and half but for the team that we have we’re doing really well,” Short said. “At the beginning of the year we were spread out because it was a different dynamic of a team. Not a lot of people knew each other and now since we’re bonding closer everyone is getting to know each other. We’re becoming more of a team and things are just flowing easier. The passes are being made and goals are going in, all that good stuff.”
The Slash apparently like to mix it up as the second-most penalized team in the AMMFHL with 220 PIM in 21 games, compared to 240 PIM in 19 games for the seventh-place Peace Country Storm (6-10-3). Brooke Tipton is the team leader with 54 PIM in 21 games.
“We’re definitely a very good penalty killing team with the amount of penalties we have,” said Short, who shares third-place in the team’s PIM department with 24 in 21 games
The Slash have also been shutout five times while averaging 1.61 goals per game as the second-lowest scoring lineup in league play. Danielle Cox is the top scorer with eight goals and 12 points in 19 games. Kyrelle Skoye is second in goals with six, followed by Breanna Jones and Tipton with four apiece.
“At the beginning of the year we couldn’t score. It was hard for us. We were trying as hard as we could but it just wouldn’t go in. Now, since everyone is clicking together, the lines are working and more goals are going in so it’s improving,” Short said.
Goals by Cox and Sophie Robertson in the third period in the weekend opener against the Raiders forced a shootout and both teams tallied once in the deadlock, with Cox replying for the Slash.
Brooke Serdachny made it 1-1 in the first period and the Raiders struck twice in the second. Alyssa Thacker finished with two assists.
Shots were 31-23 for the Slash and Natalie Bender (2-5-3, 2.32 GAA) was in net.
In the rematch, Hanna Paul potted the only goal in the last period to give the Slash their third win in seven games.
Breanna Golosky and Katie Runnalls also scored as the Slash were outshot 31-30. Hannah Clark (4-6-1, 1.74 GAA) posted the win.
The Slash were back on the ice Monday for the program’s second annual alumni event, sponsored by the 2011 Esso Cup Legacy Fund. Past and present Slash players were divided into teams and several were returnees from the 2014 inaugural game.
“It was healthy competition last year because even though we’re all friends everybody still wants to win,” Short said. “It was interesting to see how good some of the old Slash players still are. Some of them moved on to college hockey and it was a good eye opener to see what you can become.”
Short described the Slash as her second family.
“You get to know everybody and you learn to love them,” said the third-year Slash player and Grade 12 Bellerose Composite High School student. “When you get everyone together for an alumni event like this it’s just a fun experience. You get to meet the people that used to play on your team and they get to meet you. They get to realize how much has changed and they look back on how it’s been. It’s exciting.”
