Mustangs Earn Shootout Win Over Gee-Gees in Home Opener

LONDON, ON — The Western Mustangs opened the second half of the season with a hard-fought 2–1 shootout win over the Ottawa Gee-Gees on Thursday night at Thompson Arena, earning the extra point in a physical, tightly contested matchup.

Western set the tone immediately, controlling possession off the opening faceoff and generating a scoring opportunity within seconds. Ottawa opened the scoring at the 10-minute mark, but the Mustangs responded quickly when #51 Adeline Kristoff found the back of the net at 7:43 to even the score. The remainder of the period featured end-to-end chances and heavy contact, with Western goaltender #40 coming up with key stops as Ottawa pushed late. The opening frame ended tied 1–1.

The second period slowed down considerably, with Ottawa holding the edge in puck possession. Both teams generated looks from the perimeter, but scoring chances were limited. Special teams opportunities at either end failed to produce a goal, and the deadlock held heading into the third.

Western elevated their pace in the final frame, creating sustained pressure and generating multiple quality chances. The Mustangs were kept alive by several big saves from #40 midway through the period, including a pair of stops around the six-minute mark. Ottawa pressed late, registering shots in the final minute of regulation, but the game remained tied and moved to overtime.

Ottawa controlled early possession in the extra frame before Western earned a power play at 3:31. The Mustangs generated several shots with the advantage but couldn't convert, sending the game to a shootout. After multiple rounds without a goal, #94 Lacey Larmand stepped in and delivered the deciding marker to seal the win.

"I just tried to stay calm and keep my composure," Larmand said. "I had one move in my head that I know works pretty well, so I just trusted it and went with it."

Larmand added that the team's response after overtime helped fuel confidence heading into the shootout. "We know we're a good team and we know we can score," she said. "It was just about sticking together and keeping our energy up."

Head coach Brittney Howard praised her group's ability to battle through adversity in their first game back from the break. "Adversity is going to happen in the game of hockey," Howard said. "Being able to push through those moments and come out on top is huge, especially in games like this."

Howard also highlighted the importance of goaltending in allowing Western to stay aggressive offensively. "That was a massive part of our win tonight," she said. "She played the full game plus overtime and the shootout, and when we needed a big save, she came up with it. That's what you need as you move into the second half of the season."

The Mustangs are back in action tomorrow, Friday, January 9th, when they host the TMU Bold at Thompson Arena. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m.