Widnes in crazy friendly

BY HARRY DUNNETT

WIDNES Wild women were involved in a high-scoring preseason friendly defeat against Caledonia Steel Queens at Planet Ice Widnes.

In the first home game for the women side since March 2020 and the global pandemic, Wild were defeated 9-7 in an entertaining game.

Widnes women were also able to welcome fans back to see them for the first time since they won the Division 1 North title, with the season later being curtailed.

It was an inexperienced side who took to the ice on Sunday, including a number of players new to competitive ice hockey.

Widnes began the match positively with debutant Kaitlyn Kerr opening the scoring to bag herself a debut goal just three minutes in. However, the lead was short lived as just 13 seconds later, the

Steel Queens equalised. Kerr though, had a point to prove on her debut, and less than two minutes later she put Widnes back in front.

Once again, the slender lead would last just 13 seconds, leaving the score 2-2 at the end of the first quarter. Widnes got off to the perfect start in the second quarter as Sav Summer stunner restored Widnes’ lead, but four minutes later the visitors were level again.

It was another debutant Charlotte Cramp who made it 4-3 to Wild before a Queens equaliser. The game was heading to stalemate at half time until Wild women scored again with 70 seconds left on the clock, this time Kat Garner with the goal.

She scored again to open the third quarter just 12 seconds in, giving them a 6-4 lead. But they were pegged back again 90 seconds later.

Steel Queens equalised before skating down from the resulting face off to take the lead.

Widnes did later pull a goal back but eventually lost out

9-7.