Female Chiefs outshone by Saskatoon Stars

Details

Published on Thursday, April 7, 2016

Submitted article

The Neepawa Banner

The dream of advancing to the Esso Cup National Hockey Championship has come to an end for the Yellowhead Chiefs. The Manitoba Female Midget Hockey League champs were defeated by their Saskatchewan counterparts, the Saskatoon Stars, over the weekend, in a two game sweep of their west regional series.

Game one was held on Friday, Apr. 1, at the Shoal Lake Communiplex and would see Saskatoon end the night with a 2-1 win. Early in the second period, Tess Rampton scored for Yellowhead. With just over six minutes remaining in the middle frame however, the Stars answered back to make it a 1-1 score. Then, late in the second, Saskatoon added another, to give them the one goal advantage heading into the final 20 minutes. Despite their best effort, Yellowhead was unable to find the back of the net and that elusive game tying goal. Emma Greenwood made 13 saves in net for the Chiefs.

The following night, the two teams would meet once again. Yellowhead’s Sam Geekie secured the first goal of the game in the second period, providing a 1-0 lead for the home side. In the third period however, Saskatoon’s Rayah Decorby notched a pair and Anna Leschyshyn added a single marker to give them a 3-1 lead. Despite an amazing effort by the Chiefs in the final minutes, which included a few close calls near the Star’s net, it was Saskatoon’s night, as they closed out the series in two straight games. Yellowhead outshot the Stars in the game, by a margin of 21-15. Saskatoon will now represent the West Region at the Esso Cup scheduled for Weyburn, Saskatchewan Apr. 17 to 23.