The Kingston Ice Wolves weathered a late storm and a parade to the penalty box to secure a hard-fought 4-3 road victory over the Cambridge Rivulettes in a U22 Elite matchup defined by special teams and momentum swings. The game opened with a physical edge, as both teams combined for five minor penalties in the first period. Cambridge capitalized on the even-strength play, with Sara Hillock opening the scoring late in the period, assisted by Rachael Burt and Avery Randall, giving the Rivulettes a 1-0 lead after one.
The second period exploded with five goals and a dramatic shift in control. Kingston's power play, led by Samantha Keil and Reese Schutte, came alive. Keil tied the game on the man-advantage, and just over a minute later, Schutte gave the Ice Wolves their first lead. Schutte then showcased her individual skill, netting a shorthanded goal to extend the lead to 3-1. Rio Pierre added another power-play marker for Kingston, assisted by Quinn McFarlane, seemingly putting the game out of reach. However, Cambridge's Maryn Broderick answered with a crucial even-strength goal before the period ended, assisted by Sadie D'Angela, cutting the deficit to 4-2 and giving the home side life.
The third period was all Cambridge, as they unleashed a 12-3 shot barrage on Kingston netminder Lilyana Reid. The relentless pressure paid off early when Sara Hillock struck again for her second of the night, with helpers from Olivia Carriere and Rachael Burt, pulling the Rivulettes within one. Despite pulling goalie Addison Mitchell for the extra attacker and drawing a late penalty, Cambridge could not find the equalizer against a resilient Reid and a Kingston penalty kill that held firm under fire. The Ice Wolves' ability to build a lead through opportunistic special teams in the second period proved just enough to survive Cambridge's furious third-period rally.
Mississauga Hurricanes #5875