CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos won in another installment of the Crowchild Classic 5-2 when they defeated the Mount Royal Cougars at the Scotiabank Saddledome in front of 2,200 fans on Feb. 7. 

The rivalry, which started this season as Mount Royal University was admitted into the CIS, has grown to see the Dinos and the Cougars go at it 14 times this season so far. The competition has continued to grow all season long as the women's hockey teams played each other for the third time this season.

“Adapting us into the CIS was huge for us and I know it is for Mount Royal as well,” said fifth-year Elana Lovell. “It creates a passion to fight to be the king or queens of the city that will go on for years.”

The game started with a fast pace as both teams were eager to be the first on the Flames Energy Board. The Dinos got the first opportunity with a power play five minutes in. Iya Gavrilova came up with the first real chance for Calgary right outside the crease, but was stopped by Cougars goaltender Kendall Kilgour. 

Despite the possession heavily favouring the Dinos throughout the period. Mount Royal was the first to score on the night. A pass from a Cougar popped off the boards and veteran Michelle Ziegler made her way to the top of the circle. Her shot went through traffic and went five-hole on Dinos goaltender Amanda Tapp. The Cougars headed into the second period up 1-0 on the Dinos.

Less than a minute into the second period, the Dinos evened up the score. Working the puck into Mount Royal's end, Gavrilova deeked her way through traffic and passed the puck out to rookie defenceman Kelsie Lang at the point. She made no mistake, going top shelf on Kilgour to tie the game up at one. 

Going on their second power play of the night, the Cougars kept the puck in the Dinos end with Calgary unable to clear it. With a scramble in front with a tired penalty kill unit, Sarah Weninger scored her fourth goal of the season with Tapp's vision blocked from bodies in front. Jocelyn Froehlich and Chrissy Hodgson picked up the assists on the go ahead goal.

Playing catch up once again, Calgary continued the scoring with a power play of their own. A pass from Hayley Wickenheiser caught the stick of captain Tanya Morgan who found Gavrilova wide open in front to bury her 11th goal of the season for the Dinos. The score was all tied up at two. 

“We had a lot of jitters with a big game and a lot of fans, but we used this as experience for games to come as our season continues,” said Morgan. 

Gavrilova continued to be on fire scoring her second of the night with a big lead pass from defenceman Megan Grenon. All alone with goaltender Kilgour with a low shot on the left to give the Dinos their first lead of the game at the end of the period. 

Wickenheiser and Lovell both scored at the end of the third period to lift the Dinos to the 5-2 win. 

Both teams will have their last chance to go at it of the season, as they face off at Father David Bauer Arena at 7 p.m. Friday night. The Dinos will celebrate five graduating seniors in their last home game of the regular season. 

-UC-