“It’s awesome that we have home ice advantage. The community is always there to support us. And with a full barn it’s awesome.”
Captain Jayde Cadieux of the Lakeland College Kings Energy Group Rustlers Women’s hockey team says the team is excited to be in their first season and eyeing a provincial title.
“Honestly we are electric about it. We are so excited. Our first season and the first time being in a championship, so it’s huge honestly.”
This weekend they begin a best of five series against the Lethbridge Eagles with the Alberta Junior Female Hockey League or AJFHL title on the line.
Cadieux takes a look at the opposition.
“They have a lot of talented players on their team and they work hard but I think we can compete with them and hopefully bring a championship home.”
In two meetings in the regular season, the Rustlers came away winners by 3-2 over Lethbridge.
Head coach Morgan Mann sees the match up ahead in this series.
“We think that we are going to be in for a real battle. Lethbridge has an excellent team with lots of experience and some players that have played at the highest level; university hockey. So we are in for a tough test.”
Mann says the team is bringing their A-game.
“For us to be successful we will have to be really tenacious and hard on pucks and use our speed. I think that we are a good skating team and when we are playing our best, we are really pressuring all over the ice. So that will be key for us.”
Game time this weekend is Saturday at 7:15 p.m. and Sunday at 3:15 p.m. at the Russ Robertson Arena. Games three and four go to Lethbridge March 19-20th and a possible game five, March 26th in Lloydminster.
Mann is thankful to all the fans who have come out to support this season and says it has created a home ice advantage.
“To start the series at home is certainly an advantage and we will be energized by our fans on the weekend for sure.”