Sweet end to a bitter season

By Sean Nyilassy

With the playoffs as far from reach as a cure for cancer, the Dinos women’s hockey team had only pride on the line. They played their final two games Feb. 17-18 and didn’t go quietly into the night.

Thursday night’s game was against the second best team the ACAC had to offer. The Red Deer College Cougars had shamed the Dinos in their previous meetings, but not on that fateful Thursday. Eager to kick off spring break the right way, the Dinos played a tough defensive game, keeping the third-highest scoring team in the league to just one goal.

What was even better was that the Dinos scored twice, earning another win to add to their late season success list.

Looking to finish off the season right our ladies went into their final game Friday night looking for another big win, this time against the third-ranked SAIT Trojans. Unfortunately, as luck would have it, providence was not on their side. After keeping fine form throughout the first frame, the ladies faltered in the second, allowing two goals while getting only one from Captain Shauna Raugust.

Again the Trojans broke for a score in the third, bringing their lead to 3-1 with just under seven minutes to play. Beth Nerland, who has been on an offensive tear for the last month, let out one last cry of hope, landing the puck in the net with 27 seconds to play. Alas, no more goals would be scored and the Dinos were put down 3-2.

With the Dinos losing many key players to the shorter college eligibility rules next season, all they can hope for is a fresh start. And with that we wish them good luck!