It's a clash between the top two teams in the ACAC. The NAIT Ooks host the second-placed Red Deer Polytechnic Queens in the first of two-weekend meetings between the clubs.

In the first period, the Ooks got on the board early as Charlize Sallis cut out from behind the net and threw one on goal that beat Queens goaltender Izzy Palumbo on the short side. Queens settled in and started to work the puck from low to high with traffic in front. Ooks goaltender Havana Batke made some spectacular saves late in the period on the penalty kill to keep the Ooks lead intact heading into the first break.

Things opened up in the second period, as the Ooks established their forecheck, but the Queens scored first, tying things up at one. Avery Lajeunnesse burnt past both defenders to bust in on a breakaway, where she made no mistake beating Batke on the glove side. The Ooks were quick to respond, Bre Martin threw a puck on net, and she got a lucky bounce off the post and back of Palumbo before trickling in to give the Ooks a 2-1 lead at the midway point of period two. Moments later, the Queens tied things at two on Lajeunnesse's second of the night. She found a loose puck in the slot and slid it past Batke. Things stayed knotted at two after forty minutes of play.

In the third, the Queens played a near-flawless period. They limited the Ooks to only five shots on goal. Red Deer took the lead with six minutes to go and never looked back. Ooks had a glorious chance near the end with the goalie pulled, but Palumbo stood tall, and the Queens walked away with a 3-2 victory on the road. Queens' win pulls them into a tie with the Ooks for the top spot in the ACAC.

The rematch is set for tomorrow night in Red Deer at 7:00 p.m. Winner grabs complete control of first place in league standings.