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Posted Sept. 3, 2002
By Annie Fowler
Herald staff writer
Shannon Szabados broke the gender barrier in the Western Hockey League last week by being the first female invited to a WHL camp.
After posting the only shutout period Monday in the Tri-City Americans' Todd Klassen Labor Day Classic intrasquad game at Tri-Cities Coliseum, the Edmonton, Alberta, native created another chapter in the hockey history books when the Americans extended her an invitation to play their six-game exhibition schedule.
Szabados didn't find out until after the game that she'll get to don an Americans jersey for Wednesday's road game against Vancouver.
"I tried not to think about it," Szabados said. "I didn't want to get my hopes up. I wanted to play well (today) and whatever happened, happened. I was a little nervous, but when I'm nervous I play better."
Szabados, 16, made 11 saves in the first period, helping the White team to an 11-8 victory over the Blue team in the annual game. The White team had a 3-0 lead when Szabados came off the ice.
Tri-City head coach Shaun Clouston, who coached the White team, said Szabados' play in the first period was key.
"When you look at the score in the end, that was the difference," Clouston said. "She made some key saves early in the game when it was scoreless. The game seemed to open up after that - (Dylan) Stanley to (Jiri) Jakes was something we couldn't figure out."
Two of Szabados' first four saves came off shots by Jakes and Stanley.
"That felt really good," Szabados said of her time on the ice. "The first period is a big period to get your team started."
Jakes, who the Americans acquired from the Brandon Wheat Kings, scored four goals - all off assists by Stanley - and had one assist for the Blue team, which trailed 6-0 before Tyler Dyck put the puck past Joey Spracklin 13 minutes into the second period.
"(The game) was great," said Jakes, who will leave Saturday for the Boston Bruins training camp. "For me, it was a change playing with these guys. I feel I'm getting better every day."
Andrew Kozek, Clinton Pettapiece and Jason Beeman scored for the White team in the first period. Kozek, Beeman and Josh Aspenlind scored two goals each, while Marc Connors had three assists.
"We really liked what we saw," Clouston said. "It was fun. I think the fans enjoyed themselves and it was a great end to training camp."
NOTES: Monday's game drew 1,100 fans and generated $2,600 for the Todd Klassen Scholarship. ... Ten of the Americans players helped out at the Muscular Dystrophy Association telethon, answering phones for an hour at WestCoast Tri-Cities Hotel in Kennewick. Defender Shawn Belle put his jersey up for auction to benefit the cause.
Americans exhibition roster
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