The Kingston Ice Wolves used a strong second period and a clutch third-period response to secure a hard-fought 3-2 win over the Ottawa 67s in U22 Elite action. The game opened with a physical edge, as four minor penalties were called in the first frame. Kingston capitalized on the early momentum when Rio Pierre, assisted by Ava Telfer and Claire Rathwell, found the back of the net at the eight-minute mark to give the home team a 1-0 lead. The Ice Wolves dominated the shot clock in the second period, firing 19 pucks at Ottawa's Ava Lund-Fouquette, but it was the 67s who struck. While shorthanded, Norah Nyaba scored an unassisted goal with just under ninety seconds left in the period to knot the game at 1-1, swinging momentum to the visitors.
That momentum carried into the third, as Ottawa's Mackenzie Oakey, with helpers from Sophia Contant and Norah Nyaba, scored early to give the 67s their first lead at 2-1. The game grew increasingly chippy, with penalties for roughing and a critical double minor for head contact assessed to Kingston's Peyton Borton in the second period testing both teams' discipline. Undeterred, the Ice Wolves mounted a fierce comeback. Just over seven minutes after falling behind, Claire Chambers delivered the game-winner, converting a setup from Peyton Borton and Samantha Keil to tie the game. The comeback was sealed just over four minutes later when Jocelyn Osborn put Kingston ahead for good, with Borton and Telfer picking up their second assists of the night on the insurance marker.
The story in the crease was one of efficiency, as Kingston's Lilyana Reid backstopped her team to victory. While specific save stats were not tracked, she turned aside 21 of 23 Ottawa shots, with her biggest saves coming during a tense final few minutes as the 67s pressed with the extra attacker after pulling Lund-Fouquette. Ottawa's netminder faced a barrage, seeing 41 shots total and making several key stops to keep her team in it, but the Ice Wolves' persistent offensive pressure and timely scoring from players like Chambers and Osborn proved to be the difference in a tightly contested battle.
Mississauga Hurricanes #5875