The Interlake Lightning earned a single point during a two-game Manitoba Female Hockey League U18 AAA road stretch last week, dropping a 3–2 shootout decision to the Pembina Valley Hawks before falling 4–1 to the Winnipeg Avros.
Lightning’s Teagan Bragg protects the puck from Hawks defender Ariel Rondeau
Interlake opened the week Wednesday, Jan. 14, with a hard-fought shootout loss to Pembina Valley at the Access Event Centre in Morden.
The Lightning struck twice in the opening period to take a 2–1 lead. Neve Halpenny opened the scoring at 2:20, converting a setup from Manon Trenholm and Lily MacGregor. Rielle Forfar added Interlake’s second goal at 4:00, assisted by Blake Darragh.
Pembina Valley answered later in the period when Casey O’Brien scored at 15:49, assisted by Delaney Darby and Sinead Convery.
The game remained scoreless through the second period before O’Brien struck again at 3:11 of the third to tie the contest 2–2. Payton Manness and Bree Pearce drew assists on the equalizer.
Neither team scored during the five-minute overtime, sending the game to a shootout. Pembina Valley received shootout goals from Manness and Claire Boyd to secure the extra point.
Joslyn Tetlock made 39 saves through regulation and overtime for Interlake, while Madison Froese stopped 24 shots for the Hawks. Pembina Valley outshot Interlake 42–26.
The Lightning continued their road trip Sunday, Jan. 18, with a 4–1 loss to Winnipeg at Seven Oaks Arena.
Winnipeg opened the scoring at 7:06 of the first period when Addilyn Nohlgren scored, assisted by Lexington Green and Leah Claussen.
The Avros extended their lead early in the second period, with Kennedy Simpson scoring the eventual game-winner at 4:19, assisted by Nohlgren and Claire Fraser.
Interlake responded at 2:21 of the second period when Halpenny scored her second goal of the week, finishing a play set up by MacGregor and Brianna Malmstrom to cut the deficit to 2–1.
Winnipeg pulled away in the third period with two goals 17 seconds apart. Lexington Green scored at 10:33, assisted by Simpson and Brooke Froese, before Simpson added her second of the game at 10:50 with Fraser recording the lone assist.
Tetlock turned aside 33 shots in the loss, while Winnipeg netminder Anya Kauenhowen made 26 saves. The Avros held a 37–27 edge in shots on goal.
The Lightning are scheduled to return to action Tuesday, Jan. 27, when they face Winnipeg again at Seven Oaks Arena.
