Female Chiefs win big over Capitals

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Published on Thursday, October 29, 2015

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The Neepawa Banner

The Yellowhead AAA Midget Female Chiefs were able to put in a dominant performance recently against the Central Plains Capitals, on the way to a 6-1 win. 

The game between the rivals on Sunday, Oct. 25, was the first regular season matchup between the two clubs, though the Chiefs had beaten the Capitals at the Pembina Valley Showcase earlier in the month.  

Yellowhead hit the ice on a high and held the Capitals in their own end for the first several shifts of the game. Central Plains came back as the period progressed and both teams had offensive opportunities.  Yellowhead opened up the scoring on a great individual effort from McKenna Paddock. The defenceman picked up a puck off a pass from Hannah Fouillard on the right side and dangled by two defenders before lifting a shot over the goalie into the net.  Her defensive partner, Sydnee DeCorby picked up the second assist. 

The Chiefs took complete control in the second period, by firing 16 shots at the Capitals net and scoring five goals.  The first goal came on a power play just over a minute into the period, as Yellowhead passed the puck around the zone until Hannah Fouillard got the puck to McKenna Paddock at the point.  The defenceman placed a perfect shot that Tatum Amy deflected deftly into the goal.  

A few minutes later, the Chiefs scored one of the prettiest of the year, as Karissa Cullum used her speed to break out of the Yellowhead zone off a pass from Cass Lyttle.  Cullum moved the puck to Karli Frederick cutting through the Capitals zone and broke to the net, where Frederick hit her with a great backhand pass that Cullum tapped home.  

Chiefs rookie Jena Barscello scored her first AAA midget goal shortly after that, as Sam Geekie came off the bench and picked up the puck in the high slot.  The veteran forward ripped a shot that was stopped and Jena Barscello was there to slip the rebound into the open cage.  McKenna Paddock picked up her third point of the game with the second assist.  

The Chiefs worked a five-on-three power play to perfection for the fifth goal of the game with Jalyn Elmes hammering a slap shot at the goal that snuck through the goalie’s equipment.  Assists were from Sam Geekie and Tess Rampton.  Central Plains broke through for a goal as a puck skipped passed the Chiefs defenceman in the neutral zone to give a Capitals forward a breakaway chance that she slipped into the goal.  

The Chiefs restored the five goal lead before the period ended Hannah Fouillard was able to pick up a rebound, lifting the puck over the sprawled goaltender. 

With a 6 – 1 lead, the Chiefs played a steady third period, generating a few more chances, while Yellowhead goalie Emma Greenwood was steady again between the pipes, handling 21 shots to record the victory.  

The Yellowhead Chiefs will tangle with the Capitals again on Friday, Oct. 30 in Portage la Prairie, before returning home for a Saturday matchup against the Norman Wild.