Female Chiefs defeat Westman in semi-final

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Published on Thursday, March 10, 2016

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After nine days off following a first round sweep of the Interlake Lightning, the Yellowhead AAA Female Midget Chiefs finally returned to the ice on Wednesday, Mar. 2. The team began a semi final series against the Westman Wildcats at the Communiplex in Shoal Lake.  

The Chiefs shook off any rust early in this game, as they controlled large portions of the play and outshot the Wildcats 12-4.  The Chiefs were unable to capitalize on the pressure and were challenged to get more traffic in front of the net to go with the shots.  The teams played an even second period, with both creating offensive opportunities.  It would be the host team that capitalized as the line of Jessi Rampton, Emma Coulter and Morgan Ramsay controlled the puck in the Westman zone before passing it to McKenna Paddock at the blue line.  The veteran defenceman fired a puck through the crowd in front that found the back of the net and gave the Chiefs a 1-0 lead.  Near the end of the period, traffic in front of the net factored into the Chiefs’ second goal, as a shot from Sydnee DeCorby bounced off a defender and was picked up by Sam Geekie in the high slot.  The Chiefs’ leading scorer quickly deposited a high wrist shot into the goal.  Paddock had the other assist on the Geekie marker.

A tightly played third period was highlighted by the only power-play of the game for the Chiefs and a quick glove save by Emma Greenwood in the Chiefs’ goal that stole a goal away from the Wildcats.  Greenwood would finish the game with a solid 17 save shutout effort and the Chiefs would take the 2-0 victory and the one game lead in the semi final. 

Game two would move to Hartney on Friday, Mar. 4. Yellowhead was looking for a quick start to keep the momentum from their win in game one.   Unfortunately, it would be the Wildcats who scored early as Ashton Bell picked up a puck behind the Chiefs goal, stepped out front and lifted a puck over Emma Greenwood’s shoulder.  The Chiefs struggled through the first, looking for some spark to get their game going, but went into the second period trailing by one.  The Chiefs had a better second period, but the flow was interrupted by several penalties.  Their best chances to even the game came on a quick pass and shoot play in front as Jena Barscello fed Karli Frederick who one timed a shot that was denied.  Frederick would have a second great chance as she had a breakaway from the blue line in at the end of a Chiefs penalty, only to ring the puck off the post. The third would be the Chiefs’ best period, as they outshot Westman 11-3 but would fail to get the tying goal.  Several good chances would end with pucks trickling past the open goal or narrowly missing the mark.  The Chiefs would fall 1-0 and the series was now tied at one game apiece.  

The Chiefs hit the ice on Sunday, Mar. 6, knowing they needed a full 60 minute effort to take back the lead in their series with the Wildcats.  Building on a strong third period in Friday night’s road game, the Chiefs found that effort level in the first period. Outshooting the Wildcats 14 to 5, the Chiefs would also score twice.  The first goal came less then five minutes into the game as McKenna Paddock rushed the puck into the Wildcats zone.  Hooked and harassed by defenders, the Chiefs’ defenceman got a shot away and didn’t stop, finding the loose puck and sliding it past Kaitlyn Slator in the Wildcats’ goal.  The Chiefs’ top scoring line was held in check in the previous game, but came on strong in this match, as late in the first they combined to increase the lead. Hannah Fouillard fired a break out pass to Tatum Amy who powered up the right wing into the offensive zone.  From deep in the corner, Amy fired a perfect pass across to a charging Sam Geekie who tapped the puck into the open net.

With a 2-0 lead in the second period, Yellowhead kept the pressure on the visitors.  The Chiefs chose to flirt with the disaster of allowing the Wildcats several power-play chances in the last 10 minutes of the period.  After three successful penalty kills, the Wildcats broke through in the final minute on yet another power play to cut the Chiefs lead to one as the period ended.

The Chiefs refocused for the third and stayed away from the penalty box while the Wildcats would take three penalties, leading to another Chiefs goal.  Hannah Fouillard won an offensive zone draw and Sam Geekie slid the puck to McKenna Paddock, who one timed a quick slap shot for her second of the game.  This only took five seconds of power play time for the Chiefs to strike.  Westman showed they would not go easily as they fired 11 shots at Emma Greenwood in the period but the veteran goalie turned them all away to preserve the 3-1 Chiefs victory.

The Yellowhead Chiefs arrived in Hartney on Wednesday, Mar. 9 knowing a win would send them to the Manitoba Female Midget Hockey League final for the second year in a row. Standing in their way was a Westman Wildcats team the played very well on home ice.  The Chiefs were challenged to start the game on a high note and the girls responded with a furious pace to the early minutes of the game. The Wildcats matched the Chiefs and the first five minutes of the game flew by without a stoppage in play.  The large crowd on hand was treated by the teams displaying their speed and great puck movement.  Just past the midpoint of the period, the Chiefs found themselves killing a 5 on 3 power-play for over a minute and a half. Both teams knew this was a pivotal moment.  The effort of the Chiefs penalty killers was incredible, as they held the Wildcats to the outside and when a shot got through, Emma Greenwood turned it aside.   After killing the penalties, the Chiefs were soon on a power-play of their own and would open the scoring to take that important lead.  The Chiefs worked the puck around in the Wildcats’ zone until Tess Rampton lifted a shot on goal that was stopped.  Emma Coulter would not be denied and found the loose puck and banged it into the goal.

The Chiefs opened the second period with the same vigour and would add to the lead just three minutes in.  Hannah Fouillard won the puck in the Chiefs’ zone and hit Jalyn Elmes with a break out pass.  The Chiefs captain powered down the left wing and into the Wildcats’ zone before firing a perfect shot that beat the goaltender through the five hole.  Yellowhead continued to apply pressure and added a third goal when Emma Coulter corralled a loose puck near the Westman blue line and fired a quick slap shot on goal that found its way into the net.  Morgan Ramsay assisted on the goal that prompted the home team to make a goaltending change.  The Wildcats showed again that they would not go easily and for the rest of the second period, threw everything at the Chiefs to close the gap.  They would score on a pretty passing play with a back hand shot that beat Greenwood at the midway point of the period, to make the score 3-1 going into the third period.

Both teams would have a power-play opportunity in the third but neither would be able to score. The Chiefs played a disciplined game, keeping the pucks away from the front of the net.  A late penalty to the Chiefs put the Wildcats on the power-play with just over two minutes to play in the game and with the goalie out of the net, Westman pushed to narrow the Chiefs lead.  The penalty killers again were the difference as the Chiefs held the Wildcats to the outside.  Hannah Fouillard would block a shot on the penalty kill and the puck was lifted out of the zone by Jalyn Elmes and with perfect draw weight, the puck slid over the line and into the goal to make the lead 4-1.  The final minute ticked away and the Chiefs celebrated winning and advancing to the league final.  Yellowhead will face the Central Plains Capitals again as they eliminated the Pembina Valley Hawks in the other semi-final matchup.  Game times and dates follow.