With only four teams competing in the SDSSAA Division I Girls Hockey loop this year, predicting that any single squad will advance to the finals hardly represents any kind of inherent psychic powers.
That said, a 2-1 victory over the St Charles College Cardinals on Tuesday that improved their 2024-2025 record to 5-0-0 undoubtedly has the Lo-Ellen Park Knights believing they are serious threats to capture the banner that they last won in 2020.
The back and forth affair at Carmichael Arena remained scoreless through the first period of play, with Isabella Perry breaking the ice for the Knights with a lovely snipe high in the net early in period two.
Defenseman Ella Gatien doubled the advantage with just under six minutes to play in the game, her wrist shot from the point working its way though a maze of players into the back of the net.
St Charles pulled to within one when Avery Mininni was taken down on a breakaway, with the U18 AA Lady Wolves' forward making no mistake on the penalty shot, making a nifty deke to spoil the shutout bid of Daniela Grottoli - but that was it for the scoring.
"I think we have a very strong offensive group of girls this year and I think that can carry us far if we work hard," noted Perry, a grade 10 student in her second year with the team.
Though a good majority of the girls who suited up in the contest also don a Lady Wolves jersey, they are spread out between a variety of teams (AA/A/BB/etc...), creating something of a unique melting pot when they all come together.
"It's a different atmosphere to play in," admitted Perry. "You get to play with a different group of girls. I feel that you can be more creative here because you have more time and space."
Certainly her offensive creativity was on display when she took a pass from linemate Gracie Dale and hit her spot up high over St Charles netminder Keanna Navarro.
"There was a little spot over her head, so that's where I was trying to aim," said Perry. "I thought that was the spot to shoot."
Partnered with Gracie Dale and Lia Gallo for most of the game, Perry believes that her line can provide some definite depth to what should be a formidable Lo-Ellen attack.
"We are all hard workers and we all see the ice really well," she said. "It's fun to have someone who sees the ice the same way I do."
At the other end of the rink, Grottoli turned aside 22 shots for the win and came within 2:24 of keeping the Cardinals completely off the board.
"She (Grottoli) is a hard worker and you can rely on her to always try her best in net," acknowledged Perry. "It is nice to have a goalie you can count on."
With the win, Lo-Ellen remains one point ahead of the Horizon Aigles as the Valley girls downed the Bishop Carter Gators 5-2, also on Tuesday, to bump their mark to 4-1-1.
Horizon goals scorers included Maya Flores, Tessa Ranger, Gabrielle Gallagher, Naomi Gobeil and Anika Rheaume, with Kenzie Neville and Jillian Landry replying in a losing cause for BAC.