The visiting Northern Cougars hit the Vancouver Island Hurricanes with all their might on the weekend, earning a three-game sweep against the hosts in regular-season action in the B.C. Hockey Female Midget AAA League.
Travelling all the way to Campbell River, the Cougars earned a 5-1 win Sunday, a 5-0 shutout Saturday and a 4-1 victory Friday to stay atop the league with a 13-2 record and 26 points.
The Hurricanes fell to 5-8-2 and 12 points and sit in fifth place in the league.
On Sunday, the Cougars managed to kill off an early five-on-three Hurricanes' power play in the first period, thanks to strong goaltending from Kelsey Roberts. Eventually Ava Keis and Jocelyn Forrest put the Cats on the board with a 2-0 lead after the first 20 minutes.
Keis added another goal, and Sage Desjardins potted a pair of markers for the Cougars. Marissa Nichol had a career-high four assists, while Chantelle Beadman-Rolph, Sydney Jordan, Cassidy Mellott and Desjardsins had one assist each.
Roberts had her shutout bid spoiled by the Hurricanes midway through the third period, but still swept aside 15 of 16 shots. The Cougars fired 32 shots on the Hurricanes' net.
On Saturday, Roberts earned the shutout, making several key saves. Desjardins led the Cougars with a pair of goals and an assist, while Taylor Beck, Forrest and Marissa Nichol added single tallies. Keis had three assists and Nichol, Grace Barlow, Hunter Mosher and Beadman-Rolph also added helpers. The Cougars outshot the 'Canes 41-14.
The Northern Cougars opened the weekend Friday with a 4-1 win.
Mosher talled a goal with the man-advantage and Keis also scored for a 2-0 lead after the first.
Forrest padded the lead to 3-0, but the Hurricanes responded with a goal to narrow the gap. Nichol answered with a tally.
Desjardins and Keis each had two assists, while Beck, Beadman-Rolph and Mellott each earned one assist.
Emilie Nichols stopped 13 of 14 shots and the Cougars peppered 48 shots on the Hurricanes net.
The female Cats host the Vernon-based Thompson-Okanagan Lakers (6-8-1) this weekend and hope to put more room between themselves and the second-place West Coast Avalanche, who are 10-4-1 with 21 points.
The teams face off Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 9:15 a.m. and Sunday at 8:30 a.m. All games are at Kin 1.
