WINNIPEG -- Third-year forward Norah Collins found the back of the net twice, her first multi-goal game as a Bison, while Kelsey Huibers recorded her first U SPORTS goal, and Jessie Haner opened the scoring as the Manitoba Bisons won their first game against the Alberta Pandas since February of 2023, 4-2.
The win levels Manitoba's record at 1-1 to open the season, while the Pandas fell to 3-1.
After a toughly contested 1-0 game last night that saw heroic performances from both goaltenders, it was the Bisons who got this one rolling first. After several great scoring opportunities, including a shot rifled off the goalpost by Aimee Patrick, the Bisons opened the scoring off a deflection from Haner.
A penalty to the Bisons saw a dangerous Alberta power play go to work as the Pandas started to take control of the game. Alberta captain Izzy Lajoie came inches away from tying the game as a bullet from the slot was barely tipped away by Manitoba goalie Emily Shippam.
Despite the Pandas pressure, it was Manitoba who scored again to end the period as Collins, who had a potential game-tying goal ring off the crossbar in last night's game, snuck a shot in off the shoulder of Pandas goaltender Misty Rey to give Manitoba a 2-0 lead.
The second period started just like the first. Both teams produced quality chances but this time it was Alberta who struck first off a well-worked goal, finished off by Jaydnn Morden.
The Bisons quickly responded as Camryn Gillis put a perfectly placed pass onto the stick of a wide-open Kelsey Huibers who made no mistake.
The goal was set up by an end-to-end drive from Collins, who then dumped the puck to Gillis with time and space to find the rookie Huibers for her first U SPORTS goal.
Alberta wasn't going away though and they responded minutes later when forward Ryann Perrett cut inside and put a high shot over the shoulder of Shippam for her first career U SPORTS goal.
After two tightly contested periods, the shots were 18-17 Alberta with the Bisons leading 3-2.
It wouldn't stay that way for long. With just 26 seconds gone from the third and final frame, Norah Collins picked up the puck from behind the Bisons net and once again went end to end for a highlight reel goal.
Collins flew down the left wing, outpacing three Pandas before cutting inside and roofing a shot top corner to give the Bisons a 4-2 lead.
"I saw Ship (Emily Shippam) set it up behind the net for me and I saw the lane and went for it," Collins said. "I tried to just have a shooting mentality there."
As the Bisons continued to press, the Pandas were relentless in their counterattacks, generating several quality chances off the break. Despite a late push from Alberta, the Bisons kept the visitors from many solid chances in close to preserve the two goal win.
"Honestly, we played a pretty good game (last night) so we didn't need to change too much. It was just about perfecting the smaller details and they definitely did that today," said head coach Jordy Zacharias.
The Bisons are back in action next weekend as they take on the University of Regina Cougars in a doubleheader beginning on Friday on the road.
