The X-Treme And Ice

After an outstanding finish to the slate of games on Monday with that exciting Pandas-Queens game that saw the Edmonton squad prevail in a 4-3 final, we were back to see another Edmonton-based team kick off Friday's schedule of games at 10:30am on January 31, 2020. The Northern Alberta X-Treme are known for producing a number of university-level players including Manitoba's own Erin Fargey while the Winnipeg Ice have started developing more and more players who are getting long looks from university programs. This one looked to be another great game on the docket!

Before we dive into the information about the Northern Alberta X-Treme and the Winnipeg Ice, though, there was a news release yesterday by the UBC Thunderbirds where they announced that Jacquelyn Fleming of the Edmonton Pandas - featured yesterday in a game against the Thunder Bay Queens - would be joining the T-Birds for the 2022-23 season! Fleming didn't score yesterday in that game but she was an effective player for the Pandas at the 2020 Female World Sport School Challenge, and she did finish the tournament with two goals and two assists one year ago. Congratulations, Jacquelyn, on finding a home with the Thunderbirds for the 2022-23 season and beyond!

The Manitoba Female Hockey League never has 10:30am games, and I doubt that the Northern Alberta X-Treme have games often at that time as well. The two squads met on Friday morning with 1-0 records after the Ice beat the Thompson Okanagan Lakers 6-3 on Thursday while NAX hammered the Calgary Fire by a 6-0 score on Thursday evening. Both of these teams have a ton of talent on their rosters so I was hoping that we might get a track meet based on those Thursday scored, but Winnipeg's Morgan Baker and NAX's Elle Boyko turned in solid performances for a brunch-time game! In saying that, don't expect a ton of scoring in this one, but there were five goals scored in this game at the final tally!

Players that you should be listening for that the Northern Alberta X-Treme proudly developed include Robyn Short of the MacEwan Griffins, Abby Soyko who was originally recruited by Lethbridge but will suit up for the Alberta Pandas, Elle Boyko who will also join the Pandas, Brooklyn Moore and Cheyenna Harden who play with the Trinity Western Spartans, and Mya Healey of the UBC Thunderbirds. In ACAC news, Hannah Prinsen is off to the NAIT Ooks while Allie Soyko was originally recruited by Lethbridge but opts to join the Red Deer College Queens after that program was dissolved.

The Winnipeg Ice should be proud of Sara McLennan and Julianna Duma who opted to go to the OUA's York Lions, Julia Bird who will dress for the Manitoba Bisons, Elizabeth Coleman who plays with the OUA's University of Windsor Lancers, Raegan Yewdall who signed with the Alberta Pandas, Sydni Bird who will suit up for the AUS' Dalhousie Tigers, and Martina Barclay who will play for the AUS' St. Thomas University Tommies. On the NCAA front, Keira Christensen accepted a spot with the ACHA's Minot State Uinversity Beavers.

It's another solo effort by yours truly as I work this game alone once more. The first two days of the tournament are usually harder to find a second person to hop on broadcasts as those are usually the Thursday and Friday games during the day, so I apologize once more for the lousy play-by-play guy that UMFM employs. I may have to have a long talk with management about this guy.

These teams rarely play at 10:30am, but I have to say that both teams brought good efforts in this game as the first of two games both teams would play on this busy Friday at the tournament. Enjoy the UMFM broadcast of the morning game on Friday, January 31 featuring the Winnipeg Ice and the Northen Alberta X-Treme at the 2020 Female World Sport School Challenge from the BellMTS Iceplex in Winnipeg!



Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!