The Cochrane Chaos can kick back and relax going into the holiday break knowing they're still No. 1 in the Alberta Junior Female Hockey League (AJFHL).
The junior team battled it out with the Calgary Titans at home Dec. 17, winning in a 5-0 shutout, with an even 26 shots on goal between them.
Head coach Derek Loomer said the team exhibited solid play throughout the evening, with a well-earned shutout for Chaos goalie Ella Fournier.
"The girls played quite hard and found a couple breaks," he said. "It was a typical Friday night game, the energy is kind of up and down, but Ella stood in there when she had to and made some great saves and really earned her shutout."
Fournier, who is in her first year playing for the Chaos, said this was her fifth shutout of the season.
"It's honestly a pretty nice feeling knowing you played a good game and were able to bear down for your team, just not letting anything in for them," she said. "This is such a great team and we have such a great time out there."
Fournier has been playing hockey for over a decade and is currently fourth overall in the AJFHL goalie leader rankings with a 93 per cent save accuracy.
Her teammate, forward Sarah Gaiser, is also enjoying a fourth place position on the scoring leader board, with 24 points to her name.
Two of those points came from a short-handed goal in the first period and an even strength goal in the third period of the Titans game.
Gaiser was happy the team was able to get another win having just come off a big victory against the Edmonton Wolves Dec. 12., she said, after losing to the second-ranked Northern team earlier in the season.
"We're almost on a break," added Gaiser. "A lot of people are busy with finals [exams] this last weekend of play before the new year, so we were really happy to get this win while we have the majority of our team."
Gaiser, who was playing for the Calgary Midget Fire last year, said this is her first year playing for the Chaos and within the AJFHL.
"It's been fun adapting to the different style of play," she said. "The AJFL is a different experience and overall, I'm loving it."
The Chaos also faced off against the top-ranked South Division Lethbridge Eagles in an away game Dec. 18, the only other team they have lost to so far this season.
Though their bench was emptier than usual with about nine players away writing exams, the Chaos were able to persevere 4-2 and tip their 11-game winning streak to 12.
It won't be long until the Eagles get a shot at redemption though, as the two teams are set to battle it out again in Lethbridge Jan. 9 in their first game of the new year.
