Jolena Gillard shines in home opener, as Panthers cruise past Mount Allison 4-1

Thomas Becker

Two first period goals by Jolena Gillard set the tone for the rest of the game, as the UPEI Panthers earned their first win of the season 4-1 over the Mount Allison Mounties.

Through two games, Gillard already has three goals and three assists to her name and is playing the best hockey of her career so far. Yet the third-year forward was quick to recognize her linemates, Mireille Martin and Paige Outhouse, for her early season success. 

"Our line is buzzing right now," she said. "Practise was good this week and we're just working well together."

The Panthers (1-0-1) played a near perfect first period, as they created plenty of scoring opportunities on 20 shots, while limiting the Mounties to just two. 

They had a great chance to get on the board early when Kelly Clements set up Kaiya Maracle in front of the net for the easy look, but rookie goaltender Kaitlyn Evelyn slid over in time to make the save. The home team peppered her with shots all night and for the most part she did well as she turned aside 50 of 54 shots she faced. 

That scoring opportunity was a sign of things to come for the Panthers who struck first at 7:50. Gillard and Martin executed the odd-man rush to perfection with an impressive give-and-go that Gillard finished in the end. 

With six minutes to play in opening frame, Gillard added to their lead on a power play on a backhand shot in front of the net to make it 2-0.

After the game, Panthers head coach Bruce Donaldson raved about his all-star forward. 

"She has great size, great range and she can shoot a puck," he said. "We look for her to find the scoresheet and tonight she was in on all four goals."

UPEI continued to attack in the second period and at 5:31 they were rewarded again, as Gillard found Sydney Lyndon at the blueline where she slapped it home to make it 3-0. 

The Mounties (0-2-0) ran into a bit of bad luck midway through the period when Evelyn deflected a shot off the end boards onto the Martin's stick for the easy goal. 

After Friday's lead slipped away in the third period, Donaldson wanted to see his team close out this game with the same energy he saw in the first two periods, but he didn't quite get that. Despite their own struggles, the Mounties put up a fight in the third and managed to score late on a Panther turnover that Tallon Stephenson tucked away in the top right corner that made it 4-1. Against elite competition, Donaldson says the team can't afford to have those let downs.

"I really liked our first two periods. We used our size, the puck movement was good, and we won a lot of battles down low," he said. "We went away from that a bit, so it's something have to look at moving forward."

The Panthers travel to Moncton next for a Wednesday night tilt against the Aigles Bleues.

Photo Credit: Janessa Hogan