The Tri-Port Midget Wild stormed through the Doug Bondue Arena in Port Alice last Saturday, making a statement that they are the top team in the division by laying a beatdown on the Nanaimo Clippers.
The Wild wasted no time getting going once the puck was dropped, with Taylor Ranger scoring in front of the net at 14:05 of the first period, assisted by Mandy Foldy and captain Kerrigan Sharpe.
The Clippers tried their hardest to battle back, but were unable to generate any real offence due to the Wild’s strong defensive core, who managed to hold the Clippers to roughly 10-15 shots over three periods.
It continued to be all Wild from there, as sniper Bree-Anna Henderson stole the puck, skated in and unleashed a hard shot from the circle top shelf past the Clippers’ goaltender Abby Stewart at 8:13 to make it 2-0.
Sharpe then got on the score sheet at 5:42 thanks to a beautiful wrist shot, and then she found the twine again off another wrist shot with 4:00 left on the clock, making it 4-0.
In the second period, the Clippers’ Elissa Benjamin drove hard to the Wild’s net and had a few good chances, but Wild goaltender Avary Miller stood her ground, making the clutch saves when they mattered the most.
Jessica Wadhams then scored off a huge slapshot through traffic at 12:04, assisted by Foldy, and after that it was assistant captain Mackenzie Murgatroyd who found the back of the net at 8:54, giving the Wild a 6-0 lead.
The Wild didn’t stop scoring goals there, as defencewoman Madison Van Will broke in on an offensive rush and deked around Stewart, putting the puck in the net with 3:00 left in the period.
The third featured more of the same. Henderson found the back of the net off two huge shots to complete the hat trick, giving her 25 goals on the season, and the blowout game mercifully came to a close 9-0.
The Wild will be back in action this weekend, with back to back games against the Juan De Fuca Grizzlies and the Sooke Thunderbirds.
The Wild are currently neck and neck with the Campbell River Hurricanes for first place in VIAHA’s Midget girls division.
