A hat trick and overtime goal from centre Madison Black helped the Airdrie Lightning midget AA women’s hockey team win its home-opener 4-3, against the Sherwood Park Fury Oct. 26 at Genesis Place Recreation Centre. The Lightning came into its first home game of the 2018-19 Alberta Female Hockey League (AFHL) Midget Elite season with a 1-1 record. The team fell 1-0 on the road Oct. 18 in its season-opener against the Red Deer Sutter Fund Chiefs, before defeating the Edmonton Pandas 2-0 the following day. Head coach Jay Simpson said the Lightning’s first few results this season have been positive. “Last weekend, we could have gone 2-0,” Simpson said. “We only gave up one goal all weekend – we just couldn’t put the puck in the net in Red Deer.” Airdrie's offence came out with high intensity against the Fury to post a 3-1 lead in the first period. Black picked up her first two goals of the night, while Sydney Chrusch also got onto the scoreboard for the Lightning. “We’ve been having problems coming out quick at the beginning of games,” Simpson said. “This was the first time we actually came out hard and sustained it, so it was really good to see – the girls are starting to get the system.” Despite the strong start, Airdrie’s offence was unable to generate many scoring chances in the second and third periods, allowing Sherwood Park to claw its way back into the game. Fury player Tayler Premak reduced the Lightning’s lead to one goal with a tally in the second period. The two teams traded momentum and penalties throughout the third frame, as Sherwood Park looked for the equalizer while Airdrie tried to hold onto its one-goal cushion. With less than 10 seconds left on the clock, the Fury ensured the game went to overtime when Madison Porter intercepted a pass between the two Lightning defensemen on the blue line and skated in to fire a shot past Lightning goaltender Jocelynn Pearce. “Defensively, we gave up a few power-play goals, which was unfortunate,” Simpson said. “But other than that, I thought the girls stayed the course and out-worked the other team.” Black came to the Lightning’s rescue with a back-handed tally halfway through the five-minute, three-on-three overtime period. After the game, Simpson praised the 16-year-old centre’s performance. “She was held off the scoresheet last weekend and she came back [today],” he said. “She’s probably our most gifted offensive player, and she lit it up tonight.” Black, who is entering her third season with the Lightning, said she was pleased to score a hat trick, but added she couldn’t have done it without her teammates. “We didn’t give up on it and kept pushing,” she said. “We kept going strong, even though they came back stronger than we expected. “In the end, our pressure overtook them.” Airdrie outshot Sherwood Park 37-28 in the contest, with Pearce making 25 saves for the Lightning. Airdrie continued its 2018-19 AFHL campaign in Dewinton Oct. 27, with a 4-1 win against the Rocky Mountain Raiders, taking the team’s record to 3-1 after two weekends of league play. Like her coach, Black said she expects another positive season from the Lightning, which finished third in the south division of the AFHL Midget Elite last year with a 16-10 record. “All the girls get along really well and we’re all working together,” she said. “I think we’re coming out harder than most teams expect us to, and our start to games is improving.” The Lightning will return to the ice Nov. 3 with a home fixture against Red Deer. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m.
