McMillan's overtime winner leads Ooks to finals

Red Deer, AB – The NAIT Ooks are heading to the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Championship final. When the third and final game of the best-of-three semi-final against the RDC Queens went into double-overtime, NAIT's Jordan McMillan played heroe. In a game of inches, the second-year forward capitalized on an offensive opportunity that sent her team to face-off against the three-time defending champion MacEwan University Griffins for gold. 

Thirty-five minutes expired before either side could solve the goaltenders.

Just under five minute left in the second period, the NAIT Ooks opened the scoring. Megan Leblanc found herself in alone on Queens goalie Madison Fox and converted a forehand deke into the corner.

Minutes into the third period, the home team evened the contest on its 12th shot. Mary Hirsch raced up the left side and ripped it by Kaitlyn Slator's glove. Airdrie's Ashley Sutherland had the lone assist.

The Ooks recaptured their lead at 7:05. With the puck in the slot, Livia Lucova capitalized top shelf.

After the Queens hit the post and Leblanc couldn't convert on a breakaway, Queens Head Coach Kelly Coulter pulled Fox with under three minutes remaining.

With 1:09 on the clock, Queens defender Kirsten Baumgardt stepped into a shot from the point and beat Slator over the glove, knotting the game 2-2 and eventually sending it to the first ten minute overtime frame.

With 11:08 left in double-overtime, Jordan McMillan ended the contest. McMillan skated up the right side and snapped it to the far side for the game-winner.

Kirsten Baumgardt was chosen as the Collegiate Sports Medicine Queens Player-of-the-Game.

Jordan McMillan received the award for the Ooks.

The NAIT Ooks will play the MacEwan University Griffins for ACAC gold.