By Janet Schultz, NYHOL
A very unusual Team USA Women versus Team Canada Women. First it’s the Jeff Sauer International Deaf Hockey Series at Northtowns this past week. The final score is 20-6 for Team USA. But the story is in the goaltending.
Canada’s only Goalie Jamie Routledge was injured in a game prior to Saturdays. She persisted and played through her injury. Watching her you could see she was in pain but lasted through two periods and into the third. Then score was piling up and Team Canada could have run the clock but chose not too. Finally with under 10 minutes left the Team USA Goalie took over for her. Caring and compassion went above the country rivalry that appears in hockey at every level.
With that said.
Team USA came out and scored four goals right away in the first period. Canada answered back with two and then the USA put one more in to seal the first period 5-2. Scoring for Team USA Liz Helling (2), Madison Gagliano, Jessica Goldberg (2). For Canada Abi Fyte scored both.
Once again Team USA came out in the second and scored a goal just 16 seconds in off the stock of Emilie Lingren, assisted by McKinley Karpa and Michele Gintoli. Another goal at 1:59 by Kailey Niccum, assisted by Kendra Robinson and the US is off to a great second. Canada’s Dallas Boyd-Zagrozdzon scored, assisted by Kyte and Amanda Richer. The USA scores 8 more and Canada drops in one more and second period ends 14-4 USA.
Canada starts the scoring in the third period when Brittany Mallach drops one in but the USA answers back with 5 more and Canada’s Richer adds one more and the period and game ends at 20-6. (Unofficial scoring and names, we had no printed roster or wrap-up sheet. We also apologize for any errors in spelling of names)
For WNY Readers Buffalo’s own Katelyn Koester #12 plays for Team USA and had a great presence on the ice.
Photos by Janet Schultz, NYHOL© Photos can be obtained by contacting [email protected]
