CALGARY - A sold out crowd packed into the lower bowl of the Scotiabank Saddledome Thursday afternoon, excited to watch one of the most anticipated games of the year between the Mount Royal University Cougars and the University of Calgary Dinos in the 6th annual Crowchild Classic. The Dinos were able to pull out a 1-0 victory over The Cougars, despite being outshot 27-12. 

 

You could feel the energy in the the building as the first period got underway. MRU used that energy to their advantage early, controlling the puck for the majority of the opening frame. The Cougars created multiple scoring opportunities, firing a flurry of shots towards Dinos netminder Kelsey Roberts, who stood strong turning away all 10 shots she faced in the period. MRU's Kate Hufnagel nearly lit up the score board on two occasions. First on a sneaky wrap around attempt, then with herself wide open in the slot and Roberts down, she put her backhand shot wide of the net. The Cougars went to the power play 9:31 into the period after Laine Grace was sent to the box for body checking. "Lets go Cougars" chants echoed through the stands as fan were anxious to see their Cougars break the scoreless tie, but MRU failed to register any real scoring opportunities. The Dinos had been shut out in their last 6 games and the offensive struggles continued throughout the period, as they only registered 2 shots on net. 

 

The second period provided exhilarating action from both sides. UofC's offence picked up the pace dramatically early in the frame. Delaney Frey looked to have her 4th goal of the season as she received a beautiful backhand pass behind the net from defensemen Laine Grace, leaving her wide-open in front of the net, but MRU's goaltender Zoe DeBeauville shut her down with a spectacular save keeping the game scoreless.The Dinos would end the scoreless drought moments later however, when Cheyann Newman scored her first goal of the season off a nifty tip from a Merissa Dawson snap shot from the blue line through traffic at 8:36. The Cougars looked to answer late in the period when assistant captain Rachel Pitz streaked down ice and delivered a perfect cross ice feed to Andrea Sanderson, but Roberts slid post to post to make one of the great saves of the season. A mad scrabble ensued on the rebound but Sanderson ripped it high and wide on a seemingly open net. The Dinos net minder would once again make a great play in the dying seconds of the period as she poked the puck away from a streaking Megan Carver, who had just stolen the puck from Sara Craven in the Dinos zone springing her on a partial breakaway. With Roberts standing on her head, the Dinos were able to take the game into the final period up 1-0. 

 

In the 3rd the Cougars battled hard to try and tie the game. MRU failed to create any scoring chances on their first power play of the period only 8 seconds in. Moments later, the crowd gasped as the game was agonizingly close from being notted up as Anna Purschke fanned on the puck with a wide open net after a beautiful feed from Rachel Piitz. In her final Crowchild Classic, 5th year year forward Rachel Piitz put forth an outstanding effort in the 3rd period, creating multiple opportunities to tie the game. Most notably came 12:28into the period after Dinos defencemen Georgina Williams went to the box for hooking. On the power play, Piitz played give and go with Purschke who would find Piitz wide open in front of the net. Roberts however was just to good on the night, shutting down Piitz and the Cougars on every chance they got. In the final moments with the net empty, Cougars fans chanted louder than they had been all game, but the outstanding showing from the fans wasn't enough for the Cougars to pull out the last minute comeback, as they fell to the Dino's 1-0 despite outshooting Calgary 27-12.

 

Kelsey Roberts was fantastic in net for the Dinos picking up her Canada West leading 6th shutout of the season. Rachel Piitz picked up 3rd start honours for her efforts.

 

"We stuck to our forecheck and got shots on net but not always through traffic, which is what you need to do against a goalie like Roberts. We needed someone at the net to take away her eyes." Piitz said.

 

 "Its pretty disheartening, I thought I actually scored on one of my shots, but sometimes that happens. Luckily we'll get another shot at them on Saturday."

 

"It's amazing playing in this game, we look forward to it every year. Its such a great atmosphere and we love to support we get."

 

The University of Calgary is now 4-2 all time in Crowchild Classic games. The Cougars will have a shot to avenge their loss this Saturday January 27th as they face the Dinos at Flames Community Arenas at 7P.M