2015 National Women's Under-18 Championship

PETTET, PEDDLE PACE ATLANTIC TO VICTORY

WENDY GRAVES

HUNTSVILLE, Ont. – For 60 minutes Atlantic was outshot. But they were not outscored.

Goals from Brette Pettet (Kentville, N.S./Shattuck-St. Mary’s School, USHS) and Katie Peddle (Labrador City, N.L./Stanstead College, CEGEP) and 26 saves by Shelby Ryan (Dartmouth, N.S./Rothesay Netherwood School, CAHS) allowed Atlantic to sneak past British Columbia, 2-1, at the 2015 National Women’s Under-18 Championship.

This marked the second tournament in a row that the East got the best of the West. In 2013, Atlantic prevailed 4-3. With today’s win, it improved its overall record against British Columbia to 3-2-1.

Olivia Knowles (Campbell River, B.C./Okanagan Hockey Academy, JWHL) scored for B.C. Morgan Skinner (Victoria, B.C./Pacific, JWHL) made 13 saves in net.

British Columbia seemed to still be skating high from its opening day win over Alberta. The team was faster and more aggressive out of the gate, and coaxed Atlantic into taking an early penalty. One minute later, Knowles’ wrist shot from just inside the blue line weaved through traffic, eluding Ryan.

The first 10 minutes of the game were primarily played in the Atlantic zone; however, B.C. couldn’t build on its lead and instead soon found itself even.

After an Atlantic rush landed below the offensive goal line, the puck came out front, where Pettet rocketed a one-timer from the slot high glove side.

British Columbia continued to carry play in the second. A pair of four-on-four rushes by Amy Potomak (Aldergrove, B.C./Pursuit of Excellence, BCMAAA) before the midway mark saw the forward beat every defender but the goalie. Her team had luck getting pucks through, but the Atlantic defenders did a good job of preventing B.C. from getting to the rebounds.

Just past the 15-minute mark of the period, no penalty was called when Potomak was brought down on a one-on-three and play turned the other way. Peddle worked her way through two defenders of her own, the puck sliding between Skinner’s legs.

B.C. had chances to tie it up - Knowles hit the post late in the second; a loose puck that no one could quite put in from the top of the crease with six to play in the third – but, alas, no equalizer.

Atlantic and British Columbia each now sit at 1-1 in Group B. Both wrap up preliminary play on Friday: Atlantic takes on Alberta (1:30 p.m. ET/10: 30 a.m. PT) and British Columbia meets Ontario Blue (4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT).