Athabasca midget girls come out just ahead

The Athabasca Wild Blazers midget girls team came out just ahead of the Jasper Grizzlies Saturday, in what coach Kelly Bossio called a “character-building game.”

The Grizzlies played a strong game despite being short a number of players. They kept the score close and out shot the opposition by about two-to-one throughout the game.

In the first period, Kayla Carson scored one for the Grizzlies, and Kara Keogan and Jessica Karpo scored in the second and third periods. Athabasca came back with a goal for each that Jasper scored, and tallied another with six minutes left in the game. 

The final score was 4-3 for Athabasca. The Grizzlies have won one game, against Slave Lake, of their first five of the season.

Coach Mark Cowan said the game was a little disappointing, but it’s starting to show that the team has been playing as a unit for a few years.

Bossio agreed. “They know each other, know how they play,” he said. 

The coaches said the team was short players due to conflicting obligations, but has been playing well so far. “They’re doing what they were supposed to be doing,” Bossio said. “The girls put in a good effort and it’s a good game to build on.”

The next home game for Jasper’s midget girls is against Edson on Nov. 16 at 3:45 p.m.