THUNDER BAY – SPORTS – A pair of Thunder Bay Queens alumna combined on the winning goal with 5:45 remaining to lift the Shaftesbury Prep Titans to a hard-fought 3-2 victory over the Sportop midget AA Queens Thursday in opening day action at the Female World Sport School Challenge in Winnipeg.
After the Winnipeg-based Titans took a 1-0 lead after one period of play, the Queens’ Samantha Isbell tied it at the 3:12 mark of the second as she finished off a feed from Emilie Varrin.
Shaftesbury went back on top three and a half minutes later to take a one goal lead into the third period.
Thunder Bay battled back to level the score at 2-2 at 8:16 of the final frame as Isbell notched her second of the contest with Varrin and Jessica Silen drawing assists on the play.
Then with the Titans on a power play, former Queens forward Emily Oleksuk helped set-up another Thunder Bay alumna is Karli Nummikoski for the game-winner at 14:15.
Bailey Chenier had a strong outing for the Queens, despite the setback, making 28 saves overall in a contest that saw her side put 24 attempts on the Shaftesbury net.
Thunder Bay returns to the ice twice Friday in the eight-team event starting with a 10:15 a.m. match-up vs. the Warner Warriors of Alberta.
They will then meet the Pursuit of Excellence Red from Kelowna, B.C., at 8:30 p.m. later in the day.
