Nov. 1 -- Kaitlyn Tougas scored the game-winner and Amanda Makela's save on a penalty shot in the final minute of the game lifted the Thunder Bay Sportop Midget AA Queens to a dramatic 2-1 win over the host Shattuck-St. Mary's Sabres under-16 side in the championship game of the SSM Invitational tournament Sunday in Faribault, Minn.
The powerful Shattuck side that featured the daughter of National Hockey League legend Mario Lemieux in its line-up got on the board early in the first as Blayre Turnbull beat Makela.
The Queens would bounce back quickly however as Brittany Zuback knocked a Kaitlyn Tougas pass out of the air and roared down the right side and fired one past the Sabres netminder for the equalizer.
Tougas would then pot the eventual game-winner with six minutes remaining in the opening frame.
Following a scoreless second and third period and Shattuck pressing for the tying goal they had a golden opportunity to force overtime after being awarded the penalty shot with 33 seconds left in regulation after the Queens had been hit with a delay of game call.
Makela would not be deterred stopping the penalty shot attempt snapping handing the Queens their second tournament title in as many tries for the team.
Thunder Bay also skated to the championship crown in their last tourmanent as they captured the Minnesota Crunch Showcase Oct. 12 in Grand Rapids, Minn.
Queens advance to final
Oct. 31 -- A pair of wins Saturday has helped the Thunder Bay Sportop Midget AA Queens advance to the final of the Shattuck-St. Mary's Invitational tournament at the SSM Ice Arena in Faribault, Minn.
The Queens defeated the Minnesota Crunch 2-0 and the Madison Capitols 6-2 to earn a berth in the title game Sunday against the powerful host Shattuck-St. Mary's Sabres under-16 side.
In the opener Saturday the Queens and Crunch played a tight-checking, scoreless opening period before Brittany Zuback notched the eventual game-winner five minutes into the middle stanza on assists by Michela Cava and Taylor Savard.
Four minutes later the Queens Ellia Heroux and Riley Cronk combined to set-up Brianna Iazzolino for an all important insurance marker.
Thunder Bay netminder Amanda Makela stood tall the rest of the game turning aside all 19 shots she faced for the shutout win.
In game two of the day the Queens opened seven minutes into the contest against Madison as Kaitlyn Tougas finished off a nice three-way passing with Cava and Zuback.
Thunder Bay would tack on four more goals to go up 5-0 including two more by Tougas to complete her hat-trick as well as singles by Cava and Cronk.
The Capitols would make it interesting firing two quick goals on Meghan Leikkari before Cava iced it forwith the final tally of the night.
Leikkari stopped 15 of 17 shots she faced to earn the win setting the stage for the Queens-Shattuck final on Sunday.
Queens victorious in tournament opener
Oct. 30 -- The Thunder Bay Sportop Midget AA Queens opened the Shattuck-St. Mary's Invitational tournament on a winning note Friday skating to a 5-3 victory over the Green Bay Bobcats at the SSM Ice Arena in Faribault, Minn.
After falling behind 1-0 early in the contest the Queens bounced backly quickly as Brittany Zuback would set-up Kaitlyn Tougas for the qualizer.
Green Bay would go on to take their final lead of night going on top 2-1 after the first period.
Thunder Bay would bounce back in the middle frame on markers by Michela Cava and Tougas.
Zuback's fourth point of the game came early in the third period as potted the eventual game-winner to make it 4-2.
The Bobcats pulled to within one with 11 minutes remaining, but Courtney Tougas replied a minute later to close out the scoring.
Meghan Leikkari made 26 saves to pick-up the win for Thunder Bay who fired 29 shots on the Green Bay net.
Zuback finished with a goal and three assists while Kaitlyn Tougas added an assist to go along with her two markers and Savanna Gamache chipped in with three helpers.
Next up in the tourney for the Queens will be another meeting with the Minnesota Crunch. This contest, which gets underway at 12 p.m. CT, will mark the sixth meeting of the season between the two sides.
So far the club have gone a productive 5-0-1 vs. the Crunch.
The Queens will also wrap-up round-robin play in the tourney Saturday evening at 7 p.m. against the Madison Capitols.
Sunday will see the tournament conclude with the medal round games.
The powerful Shattuck side that featured the daughter of National Hockey League legend Mario Lemieux in its line-up got on the board early in the first as Blayre Turnbull beat Makela.
The Queens would bounce back quickly however as Brittany Zuback knocked a Kaitlyn Tougas pass out of the air and roared down the right side and fired one past the Sabres netminder for the equalizer.
Tougas would then pot the eventual game-winner with six minutes remaining in the opening frame.
Following a scoreless second and third period and Shattuck pressing for the tying goal they had a golden opportunity to force overtime after being awarded the penalty shot with 33 seconds left in regulation after the Queens had been hit with a delay of game call.
Makela would not be deterred stopping the penalty shot attempt snapping handing the Queens their second tournament title in as many tries for the team.
Thunder Bay also skated to the championship crown in their last tourmanent as they captured the Minnesota Crunch Showcase Oct. 12 in Grand Rapids, Minn.
Queens advance to final
Oct. 31 -- A pair of wins Saturday has helped the Thunder Bay Sportop Midget AA Queens advance to the final of the Shattuck-St. Mary's Invitational tournament at the SSM Ice Arena in Faribault, Minn.
The Queens defeated the Minnesota Crunch 2-0 and the Madison Capitols 6-2 to earn a berth in the title game Sunday against the powerful host Shattuck-St. Mary's Sabres under-16 side.
In the opener Saturday the Queens and Crunch played a tight-checking, scoreless opening period before Brittany Zuback notched the eventual game-winner five minutes into the middle stanza on assists by Michela Cava and Taylor Savard.
Four minutes later the Queens Ellia Heroux and Riley Cronk combined to set-up Brianna Iazzolino for an all important insurance marker.
Thunder Bay netminder Amanda Makela stood tall the rest of the game turning aside all 19 shots she faced for the shutout win.
In game two of the day the Queens opened seven minutes into the contest against Madison as Kaitlyn Tougas finished off a nice three-way passing with Cava and Zuback.
Thunder Bay would tack on four more goals to go up 5-0 including two more by Tougas to complete her hat-trick as well as singles by Cava and Cronk.
The Capitols would make it interesting firing two quick goals on Meghan Leikkari before Cava iced it forwith the final tally of the night.
Leikkari stopped 15 of 17 shots she faced to earn the win setting the stage for the Queens-Shattuck final on Sunday.
Queens victorious in tournament opener
Oct. 30 -- The Thunder Bay Sportop Midget AA Queens opened the Shattuck-St. Mary's Invitational tournament on a winning note Friday skating to a 5-3 victory over the Green Bay Bobcats at the SSM Ice Arena in Faribault, Minn.
After falling behind 1-0 early in the contest the Queens bounced backly quickly as Brittany Zuback would set-up Kaitlyn Tougas for the qualizer.
Green Bay would go on to take their final lead of night going on top 2-1 after the first period.
Thunder Bay would bounce back in the middle frame on markers by Michela Cava and Tougas.
Zuback's fourth point of the game came early in the third period as potted the eventual game-winner to make it 4-2.
The Bobcats pulled to within one with 11 minutes remaining, but Courtney Tougas replied a minute later to close out the scoring.
Meghan Leikkari made 26 saves to pick-up the win for Thunder Bay who fired 29 shots on the Green Bay net.
Zuback finished with a goal and three assists while Kaitlyn Tougas added an assist to go along with her two markers and Savanna Gamache chipped in with three helpers.
Next up in the tourney for the Queens will be another meeting with the Minnesota Crunch. This contest, which gets underway at 12 p.m. CT, will mark the sixth meeting of the season between the two sides.
So far the club have gone a productive 5-0-1 vs. the Crunch.
The Queens will also wrap-up round-robin play in the tourney Saturday evening at 7 p.m. against the Madison Capitols.
Sunday will see the tournament conclude with the medal round games.
