麻豆社区

The most exciting game of the year came down to a shootout, and the underdog Green Beasts edged the Red Dragons 5-4 in the women's rec hockey championship at Takhini Arena Thursday night.

With the championship on the line, the Beasts first shooter Laura Grieve slammed on the brakes at the edge of the crease and dragged the puck backhand to forehand before tucking the puck underneath Dragons goalie Stacey Bowden.

It would be the only goal her team would need as goalie Amy Gill proceeded to slam the door on all three Dragons shooters 鈥� including the league's top scorer Danielle Hodgson.

Grieve's shootout marker was her third goal of the game. She also scored twice in regulation, including the game-tying goal with only 1:37 to play. She also had one assist.

"I was dreaming about it all night,鈥� Grieve said of her shootout deke. "I knew I had to be really patient with her (Bowden). She's a great goalie 鈥� She can do the splits. I just knew I had to be patient, and I guess it worked.鈥�

In regulation, Katherine MacKellar scored twice and added an assist for the Beasts.

Nicole Pederson had a hat trick and one assist for the Dragons, while Hodgson had the other. Neither team could muster a lead of more than one goal.

On Tuesday, the Beasts dropped their first playoff matchup against the Dragons by a score of 2-1. They weren't about to let a second chance slip away.

"When it's the finals, you just need to step it up,鈥� said Grieve of the rematch. "I just tried to skate as best as I could and go out there as hard as I could. I think we all did. It's amazing. We started off really strong, and then fell to second place. We just knew we were a first-place team.鈥�

Beasts centre Hannah Woodwalker 鈥� the Beasts' third shooter 鈥� said it took a complete team effort to knock off the Dragons.

"We always try hard to work together as a team, and I think we really stepped it up a notch in the playoffs,鈥� she said.

The 18-year-old Woodwalker has now played two years in the women's league and said this year seemed much more competitive. She praised her rookie teammates for their progress throughout the year.

"Last year, we never really won a game,鈥� she admitted. "This year is just a lot different. It's a great feeling.鈥�

Hodgson said the Dragons could not be disappointed with their year 鈥� one that included only five regular-season losses.

"It was a really good game,鈥� she said. "We were all trying really hard to see what we could come up with. But they have a really good team as well, with strong players. I feel like the whole game we were a little more hesitant because I think we had a lot of pressure riding on us. I think that kind of got to a lot of girls.鈥�

Hodgson also said she was feeling "under the weather,鈥� and the rough play of the playoffs didn't help. The Dragons captain drew a tripping penalty early in overtime, but said she didn't feel herself afterwards.

Hodgson said she finds joy in coaching her teammates throughout the year to help them improve.

"My team's usually done fairly good,鈥� she said. "I really try to get the girls engaged and I usually pick a different girl every game to go out and play with on my line, and coach her while I'm out there.鈥�

Hodgson praised her team for buying in to her message.

"They're all really great,鈥� she said.