The Ridley Tigers skated into Windsor and emerged with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Southwest Wildcats in a U22 Elite contest defined by strong goaltending and disciplined play. The game opened with both teams trading chances, as the Wildcats held a slim 12-11 edge in shots after a fast-paced first period. The Tigers' discipline wavered early, taking two minors for boarding and cross-checking, but the Wildcats' power play couldn't solve goaltender Grier Cooper. The deadlock was finally broken in the second period when Ridley's Morgan Nodding, assisted by Abigail Dingwell, found the back of the net at the 5:11 mark to put the visitors ahead.
The Wildcats responded with a quick strike of their own, showing impressive resilience. Just 18 seconds after falling behind, Emma Holm connected on an even-strength play, with assists from Tristan Larocque and Taylor Wilkins, to knot the score at 1-1. The middle frame saw tensions rise, with Windsor's Payton Burnett taking a minor for head contact. The third period belonged to the Tigers, who turned up the pressure and outshot the Wildcats 11-6. Their persistence paid off when Jeevin Khehra restored Ridley's lead, securing what would be the game-winning goal. The final minutes saw a flurry of penalties, including hooking calls to both Lilly Beresford and Alexis Slota, but the Wildcats couldn't muster another equalizer with the extra attacker.
In a game where detailed goalie statistics were not tracked, the final score and shot totals told the story of a goaltending duel. Ridley's Grier Cooper turned aside 25 of 26 shots to earn the win, while Windsor's Paige Oliver was nearly as sharp, making 30 saves on 32 shots in a losing effort. The Tigers' ability to control the third period and capitalize on a key opportunity proved to be the difference, handing the Wildcats a narrow defeat on home ice.
Mississauga Hurricanes #5875