SAHA women’s team ready for playoff action

By JAMES TUBB on March 10, 2023.

jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb

The South Alberta Hockey Academy women’s hockey team is gearing up for the CSSHL playoff sprint.

SAHA opens their playoff tournament at Penticton on Sunday with a contest against RHA Winnipeg. They face Okanagan Hockey Academy on Monday before facing Edge School on Tuesday.

That Edge matchup is a rematch for SAHA, who beat the Calgary-based school 4-3 on Thursday to clinch fifth place in the standings with a record of 17-11-0-1. Kiyra Kletzel, Keira Grant and Kendal Davidson each had a goal and an assist in the win, Kenzie Carson had SAHA’s other goal. Maddy Ferguson was between the pipes, making 26 saves in the win.

Head coach Evan Vossen says that game serves as a tune-up for them as they work toward the season-ending week.

“It’s what we’ve worked towards from Sept. 1, it’s not going to be anything special, anything different,” Vossen said. “There’s nothing new that’s going to be put in place, it’s just going to be talking about our habits and things that we’ve touched on adding to those pieces from day one and really driving those home.”

Between the pipes for SAHA, Ferguson and Devyn Amundson split duties in net. Ferguson had a record of 10-5-0 with a 2.25 goals against average and a .934 save percentage. Amundson had a 2.26 goals against average with a .931 save percentage and a record of 8-6-0-1.

Téa Pearce led SAHA in scoring this season with 15 goals and 24 points in 23 games. Davidson was not far behind, putting up 13 goals and 21 points in 26 games. Both are in their final season at the U18 level and are excited for their last chance at a championship with the local hockey academy.

“I definitely want to play my heart out for my last few games here, I’m super excited,” Pearce said.

Both Pearce and Davidson are returning from representing Team Alberta at the Canada Winter Games in P.E.I. ahead of the CSSHL’s playoffs. Davidson says she wants to continue her play from there and bring that approach to Penticton.

“Just not going to lower my game back down, and keep playing the way I’ve been playing at the Winter Games, bring it to this team and hopefully go all the way,” Davidson said. “We just can’t take it for granted. Last year we lost out in the quarters. But I believe we have the team to go all the way and we have to buy in. We have the talent, we have the skill, we have the grit.

“We can’t play individual games. We have to play as a team and buy into our culture.”

The CSSHL women’s playoffs semifinals are slated for Wednesday, with the championship final Thursday. If SAHA wants to play in that final game, Vossen says it’s the time of season where there’s not much more to be said, it’s on the players to take action.

“At this time, you’ve done a lot of preaching, teaching and talking, and at this point it’s having everybody get on the same page and buy in to what’s important,” Vossen said. “For us it’s using our team speed, getting to the hard areas of the ice and willingness to do whatever it’s going to take to find success. From all players on any and every given play.”

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