Female Chiefs crowned MFMHL champs
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- Published on Thursday, March 31, 2016
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The Neepawa Banner/Neepawa Press
It was déjà vu all over again on Saturday, Mar. 26 at the Communiplex in Shoal Lake, well, except for the ending. For the second year in a row and almost exactly one year to the day, the Yellowhead Chiefs faced the Central Plains Capitals in a game five winner take all game for the Manitoba Female Midget Hockey League championship. In front of a packed house, the two teams continued to showcase the quality of AAA female midget players in the province.
The first period once again was a tight checking affair as both teams worked hard to avoid making a mistake to give up an early lead. Both teams had power-play opportunities in the period, but no goals were scored.
A late first period penalty for having too many players on the ice had the Chiefs on the power-play to start the second and it would McKenna Paddock again who gave the Chiefs the lead. The veteran defenceman took a cross ice pass from partner Sydneee DeCorby and fired a quick wrist shot that would beat McKenna Wild in the Capitals goal. The next shift after a goal is very important and the Capitals pushed hard off the centre ice face off and gained control of the puck in the Chiefs end. A defenceman kept the puck in at the Chiefs’ blue line and fired a high shot back into the zone. The puck was gloved down by a forward and slid towards the Chiefs goal where is deflected off another Capitals forward and into the goal to tie the game.
The Chiefs survived the final minute of the period as they were stuck in their zone, forcing Emma Greenwood to make two of her biggest saves of the series.
Tied at 1-1 heading into the final period, both teams continued to work hard, but it was the Chiefs who seemed to have an extra step and they created several scoring chances. Just over a minute into the third, Yellowhead scored and celebrated taking the lead. However, the referee ruled that the puck had been kicked into the net and waved off the goal. Instead of getting discouraged, Yellowhead continued to press and the hard work paid off quickly. Jessi Rampton, Sam Geekie and Tatum Amy controlled the puck in the Capitals’ zone and in a scramble around the goal, Amy found the puck and lifted a shot the floated over the Central Plains goalie and into the net. The game would be very tense as with less then three minutes remaining, the Chiefs were down two players due to penalties for over a minute and a half. The veteran duo of Hannah Fouillard and Jalyn Elmes would not be denied as they sacrificed to kill off the penalty. The Capitals pulled their goaltender for an extra attacker late, but couldn’t capitalize. Then, Yellowhead’s Emma Coulter was able to seal the victory with an empty netter to make the final score 3-1 for the Chiefs and secure Yellowhead’s first MFMHL Championship in team history. The Chiefs were joined on the ice by family and friends to enjoy the moment and celebrate with championship trophy and provincial banner.
Yellowhead will now face the Saskatoon Stars, winners of the Saskatchewan AAA Midget league, in a three game West Region Final with the winner advancing to the Esso Cup in Weyburn, Saskatchewan from Apr. 17 to 23. All three games will be played at the Shoal Lake Communiplex, starting with the series opener on Friday Apr. 1 at 7:30 pm. Game two is set for Saturday Apr. 2 at 7:30 pm and Game three, if necessary will be Sunday, Apr. 3 at 4:00 pm.
