(The Women's Hockey League report is provided by the WHL's Lorie Springall and will be published weekly during the season.)
WEEK 12 REPORT: By Lorie Springall
Skip’s Kweok accomplished something no other team has managed to do so far this year...they beat Source for Sports.
That’s right folks. The streak is over. The mighty have fallen. The pressure is off.
Source put a number in the loss column for the first time this year after dropping a 4-3 decision to a tenacious Skip’s Kweok crew on Sunday.
Their undefeated streak, including playoffs, of 9 wins and 5 ties sets a new league record.
Feelings of relief seemed to overcome any hint of disappointment by the Source players as they took the loss in stride.
After falling behind 3-1, Source battled back to even the score midway through the third. With both teams hammering away to snap the tie, it seemed that Source might just keep the streak alive until Mona Jones banked a shot off the leg of Source goalie, Karen Armstrong, for the win.
Source for Sports had several chances in the final minute with their goalie pulled and six attackers but couldn’t beat Joey (The Goalie) Montgomery.
“That was so exciting, one of the most exciting games I’ve ever played in.” said Source for Sports blueliner, Kim Chapman. “What an awesome game!”
Mona Jones scored twice for Skip’s Kweok while Pam Booth and Chris Elliot each added one. Elliot also had an assist along with Rose Jones, Debbie (Digger) Desgagne and Christine Robertson.
Lisa Venier scored once and had one assist for Source for Sports. Donna May Sayers-Lariviere and Stephanie Bean also scored. Karen Gartshore and Kim Chapman earned one assist each.
With people buzzing about a possible Skip’s/Source playoff final, Algoma Insurance continued to quietly and confidently challenge the notion.
Algoma blanked Lafarge 7-0 Sunday as Sherri Collins earned her second shut out in three games. The loss knocked Lafarge out of playoff contention with a fifth place finish and moved Algoma just one point behind Skip’s.
Michelle Irwin led the way with two goals and two assists. Theresa Glover also scored twice and added one assist while Debbie Beauchamp and Andrea Jarzombek each had a goal and two assists. Penny Glover scored once and added one assist. Lori Swan pitched in with three assists and Jennifer Blahey, one assist.
With first place on the line in the ‘A’ division playoffs, the stingy defence of Algoma Insurance (one goal against in 3 playoff games) faced the scorching offense of Skip’s Kweok (14 goals scored in 3 games).
The two teams locked horns in a 1-1 tie Monday night, securing first place for Skip’s and second spot for Algoma.
Debbie Beauchamp scored for Algoma and Mona Jones for Skip’s. Debbie (Digger) Desgagne assisted on Jones’ goal.
Both teams head into the semi finals without a loss in the playoff round.
Skip’s will play Investors Group in a semi final game while Algoma Insurance faces off against Source for Sports.
Source finished the preliminary round with a 4-0 shut out win over Investors Group. Lisa Venier scored her third hattrick of the year. Stephanie Bean had the other marker.
Jenny Sayers had two assists with singles going to Kim Chapman, Donna May Sayers-Lariviere, Debbie Sacco, Heather Coutu and Karen Gartshore. Karen Armstrong earned her fifth shut out of the season.
In another first place contest, Country Way’s Teri Bonnell shut out Crawford’s Canines 5-0. The win moved Country Way past the Canines and into first place in the ‘B’ division standings.
Christine Trivers had a goal and one assist while rookie Jennifer Johnson and Donna (Wheels) Smith each scored their first of the season. Joanne Pine and Francine (Flash) Floreani scored a goal each. Assists went to Kristy Kernaghen (2) and Tammy Vince.
Meanwhile, Palmer Paving and White Oak Paint played to a 1-1 tie.
Melissa Holder was outstanding in goal for Palmer Paving. Lori (Big Bird) Bonnell finally solved Holder with 13 minutes remaining in the game.
Denise (Deeter) Goldade scored Palmer’s goal early in the first frame on a beautiful feed from Jean Feagan and Tracey Maitland.
The tie sets up a semi final match between Country Way and Palmer Paving. White Oak Paint finished in second place with three ties and will face off against third place Crawford’s Canines in the other semi final match up.
Game times and locations for the semis in both divisions will be announced later in the week.
*** PLAYOFF STANDINGS:
(wins-losses-ties-points)
A DIVISION:
Source For Sports 1-0-1-3 Skip's Kweok 1-0-0-2 Algoma Insurance 0-0-1-1 Investors Group 0-1-1-1 Lafarge 0-1-1-1
B DIVISION:
Country Way 1-0-0-2 White Oak Paint 0-0-1-1 Crawford's Canines 0-0-1-1 Palmer Paving 0-1-0-0
*** WEEK 11 REPORT:
Just four games to report this week as the league surrendered its Sunday time slot at McMeeken to the always entertaining Little NHL tournament.
Playoffs continued in Echo Bay on Monday night. In Division 'A' Skip's Kweok won their second straight playoff game crushing Lafarge 7-0 while Algoma Insurance defeated Investors Group 5-1. Country Way and White Oak Paint battled to a 2-2 draw in the 'B' Division round and Crawford's Canines slipped past Palmer Paving 2-1.
The Skip's Kweok – Lafarge game was a bizarre affair as Skip's played the first half of the game without a goalie, using six attackers.
Regular puck-stopper, Marion Seymour, is out for the season after breaking her ankle in the Bruce Mines tournament earlier this month.
Replacement, Joey Montgomery, recruited only minutes before the game, arrived midway through the second period to mind the pipes and in the process earned her first shut out.
Lafarge played on their heels right from the get-go as Skip's built a 4-0 lead after one period of play. Chris Elliot scored the eventual game winning goal just five minutes into the first frame. That marks her fourth goal of the year and third game winner on the season.
Debbie (Digger) Desgagne and Mona Jones each had a four point game with two goals and two assists. Amanda (Sniper) Fata and Rose Jones also scored. Other assists went to Trish Irvine (2), Pam Booth (2), Rose Jones and Christine Robertson.
Eight different players contributed offensively in Algoma Insurance's 5-1 win over Investors Group. Jennifer Blahey was on fire with a goal and two assists. Debbie Beauchamp had a goal and one assist and Michelle Irwin earned two assists.
White Oak Paint hasn't lost a playoff game yet but they haven't won one either. After a 1-1 tie with Crawford's Canines last week, the "Orange Crushers" settled for a 2-2 tie with Country Way.
In a dramatic finish, The Crushers' Lori (Big Bird) Bonnell was denied a scoring chance in the dying seconds as she and Country Way defender Sue Chiblow tangled in a foot race. Chiblow matched her stride for stride and as Bonnell threatened to get a shot off, Chiblow tripped her up at the buzzer.
Sabrina Fischer's goal with 7 minutes remaining lifted Crawford's Canines to a 2-1 win over Palmer Paving. The victory moved the Canines into first place in the 'B' Division playoffs.