By Scott Roblin

Painter’s overtime heroics guide Peewee Wildcats to league title

Mar 17, 2019 | 2:09 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Over the course of the 2018-19 season, the Medicine Hat Peewee Wildcats have leaned on players like Brianna Finke, Riley Gramlich, and Keira Grant to guide the team offensively.

But it was an unlikely name stepping up as overtime hero on Saturday at the Hockey Hounds Recreation Centre, securing a Rocky Mountain Female Hockey League title on home ice.

Defenceman Jailyn Painter scored 2:35 into overtime against the Red Deer Peewee Chiefs, giving the Wildcats a 3-2 victory to sweep their best-of-three finals series in two games.

It was only the fifth goal of the season for Painter, who was mobbed by her teammates at centre ice after her wrist shot beat Chiefs goaltender Rayna Lennie.

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“The best, it was one of the best goals I’ve ever scored,” said Painter. “I saw an opening while my defence partner Marley [Howes] passed the puck to me, which I’m so grateful that she passed it to me. I saw an opening and I just took it, I shot and hoped for the best.”

Painter’s goal from just across the blue line surprised even Wildcats head coach Kris Schultz, who added he was a bit numb seeing the puck cross the line in the overtime period.

“It was a surprise goal, you don’t expect that to go in,” said Schultz. “Thankfully it did and it was the result we wanted. It wasn’t necessarily a Picasso but you know what, there’s abstract art that sells for millions of dollars too so we’ll take it.”

Finishing playoffs with a perfect 4-0 record, the Peewee Wildcats will now look to win another championship as they head north to Peewee Female A Provincials in Olds beginning on Thursday.

CHAT Sports spoke with both Painter and Schultz about the thrilling overtime victory to clinch the league title and the confidence the team has heading into the provincial tournament.