February 14, 2013
W-HOCKEY PLAYOFF ROUNDUP: Home teams all earn shutout wins in playoff openers
February 13
Toronto - 0 @ Western - 2 (Western leads series 1-0)
LONDON, Ont. – Following a regular season that saw them finish in fourth place in the OUA the Western Mustangs women’s hockey kicked off their playoff schedule Wednesday night against Toronto Varsity Blues. In a repeat of their OUA Quarter-final series from last year, the Mustangs took game one of the best of three series, picking up a 2-0 victory.
With a successful end to the season, the Mustangs came out eager to prove themselves as contenders in the playoffs. Toronto held their presence throughout the first in Western’s end, however the Mustangs’ Brittany Clapham would be the first to score, assisted by Kryshanda Green, giving Western the advantage midway through the first period. Clapham scored her first career goal during the last game of Western’s season and made her second goal just as unique by being Western’s first playoff goal. The Varsity Blues continued to make their presence felt, but Western goaltender Kelly Campbell would ensure that scored remained at 1-0 at the end of the frame.
The Varsity Blues came out strong at the beginning of the second with chances that almost tied the game, including one that was stopped as Campbell made an astonishing glove save as the puck was inches from crossing the goal line. Penalties became Toronto’s main issue in the second with Western having multiple power play opportunities, although Western would fail to capitalize on their power play chances, stopped by Toronto’s aggressive short-handed unit. With both teams unable to score during the period, Western would keep the 1-0 lead into the second intermission.
Toronto continued their dominant presence in the Western zone at the beginning of the third. With the shots piling up on Western’s netminder things began to look bleak, however Clapham scored her second goal of the game, assisted by Marlowe Pecora, just under seven minutes into the period to extend the Mustangs lead. With a 2-0 lead over the Varsity Blues, the Mustangs only had to hold out against the Toronto offensive attack and Campbell held strong against the Toronto shooters, keeping them shutout for the remainder of the game.
Western now travels to Toronto Friday to continue their quarter-final playoffs on Friday. Game three, if necessary, is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. at Thompson Arena.
Source: Western Sports Info
Waterloo - 0 @ Laurier - 4 (Laurier leads series 1-0)
WATERLOO, Ont. (February 13, 2013) - Forward Devon Skeats of Whitby, Ont., scored two goals and added an assist, all in the third period, as the No. 4 Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks opened their OUA Quarter-final series with a 4-0 victory over the Waterloo Warriors on Wednesday night.
The speedy winger scored the 14th and 15th playoff goals of her playoff career as a short-handed Hawks lineup once again kept the Warriors off the scoresheet. Dating back to last season, Laurier has not allowed Waterloo to score a goal in the last 308 minutes and six seconds, a span of over five games.
"It was a big third period for us," commented Skeats after the game. "When playoff games come around, it's like a second Christmas for me. I just get this energy and it works for me. I'm excited for this time of year again."
Skeats' third period performance was a critical one for the Hawks who started the game short-handed and lost two more players during the game. First, Candice Styles of Orangeville, Ont., left the game after a nasty knee-on-knee collision with Waterloo's Jessica Tracey of Woodslee, Ont., who was subsequently given a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct. Then Laura Brooker of Fergus, Ont., was forced to leave the game with a minor ailment leaving Laurier with just 14 skates for much of the game.
"It was good to see everyone stepped up tonight," commented captain Fiona Lester of Peterborough, Ont., after the game. "All the people who didn't have injuries and were healthy, it was awesome to see them step up and play great."
Two of those players stepping up for the Hawks were Jessie Hurrell of Palgrave, Ont., and Paula Lagamba of Toronto, who each scored their first goals of the playoffs. Meanwhile in net, Erika Thunder of Buffalo Point, Man., got the start and made 21 saves for her second career playoff shutout.
For the Warriors, Rebecca Bouwhuis of Orillia, Ont., turned away 31 shots in her first career playoff start.
With Waterloo playing their first playoff game in six years, Laurier jumped on the Warriors early on, firing 17 shots on goal in the opening 20 minutes. However, Bouwhuis held her team in it, including killing off the five-minute major penalty handed out to Tracey.
That kill gave the Warriors momentum moving into the second period and they took advantage, controlling the play for the first half of the second period but were unable to beat Thunder.
Laurier slowly turned their game around thanks to the line of Hurrell, Tammy Freiburger of Wingham, Ont., and Robyn Degagne of North Bay, Ont. The trio controlled play in the Warriors zone and were rewarded midway through the period when Freiburger centered in front to Hurrell who banged it past Bouwhuis to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.
Heading to the third up by a single goal, the Hawks came out and took the play to Waterloo. Lagamba extended the lead to two after some great cycle work on the boards before Skeats fired home a pair of markers past Bouwhuis to round out the scoring.
Laurier will now head across the street to Columbia Ice Field on Saturday for Game 2 of this series as they look for the sweep. Puck drop is set for 2 p.m.
Source: Laurier Sports Info
UOIT - 0 @ Guelph - 4 (Guelph leads series 1-0)
GUELPH, Ont. – The Guelph Gryphon women’s hockey team shutout the UOIT Ridgebacks tonight 4-0 at the Gryphon Centre in game one of the OUA quarterfinal best-of-three series.
The second game of the series will now move to Oshawa on Friday night (Feb. 15). Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. If a third game is needed the Gryphons will return home to Guelph and host the final game of the series on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
Stephanie Nehring earned the shutout for the Gryphons making 13 saves in the win. Gryphon goals were scored by Jessica Pinkerton, Amanda Parkins, Averi Nooren and Kaitlyn Mora.
The Gryphons came out strong keeping good offence with quick turnarounds when it was necessary. Guelph took the Ridgebacks by surprise with Jessica Pinkerton (Oshawa, ON) getting a breakaway goal at centre ice only six minutes into the period to take a 1-0 lead. This awoke the Ridgebacks who then came on aggressively on offence. Mid-way in the period the Ridgebacks attempted a ‘top shelf’ shot but Gryphon goalie Stephanie Nehring (Oshawa, ON) stood tall and made the save. To finish the period the Gryphons outshot the Ridgebacks 7-4.
The second period was exciting as both sides fought for the win. Amanda Parkins (Kitchener, ON) scored with just over five minutes remaining in the second on a beautiful shot through the butterfly hole in UOIT’s goalie with assistance from Jessica Pinkerton and Christine Grant (Mississauga, ON).
Guelph’s Averi Nooren (Aylmer, ON) scored in the third period at 9:07 to give the Gryphons a 3-0 lead. Guelph kept up a good pace in the period and continued to battle for the puck. Kaitlyn Mora (Guelph, ON) made an effort to get the puck in but was tripped on her way to the net causing a penalty shot in which she scored with ease.
Guelph outshot UOIT 31 shots to 13. Game two of the series is Friday night in Oshawa, puck drops at 7:30pm.
Source: Guelph Sports Info
Toronto - 0 @ Western - 2 (Western leads series 1-0)
LONDON, Ont. – Following a regular season that saw them finish in fourth place in the OUA the Western Mustangs women’s hockey kicked off their playoff schedule Wednesday night against Toronto Varsity Blues. In a repeat of their OUA Quarter-final series from last year, the Mustangs took game one of the best of three series, picking up a 2-0 victory.
With a successful end to the season, the Mustangs came out eager to prove themselves as contenders in the playoffs. Toronto held their presence throughout the first in Western’s end, however the Mustangs’ Brittany Clapham would be the first to score, assisted by Kryshanda Green, giving Western the advantage midway through the first period. Clapham scored her first career goal during the last game of Western’s season and made her second goal just as unique by being Western’s first playoff goal. The Varsity Blues continued to make their presence felt, but Western goaltender Kelly Campbell would ensure that scored remained at 1-0 at the end of the frame.
The Varsity Blues came out strong at the beginning of the second with chances that almost tied the game, including one that was stopped as Campbell made an astonishing glove save as the puck was inches from crossing the goal line. Penalties became Toronto’s main issue in the second with Western having multiple power play opportunities, although Western would fail to capitalize on their power play chances, stopped by Toronto’s aggressive short-handed unit. With both teams unable to score during the period, Western would keep the 1-0 lead into the second intermission.
Toronto continued their dominant presence in the Western zone at the beginning of the third. With the shots piling up on Western’s netminder things began to look bleak, however Clapham scored her second goal of the game, assisted by Marlowe Pecora, just under seven minutes into the period to extend the Mustangs lead. With a 2-0 lead over the Varsity Blues, the Mustangs only had to hold out against the Toronto offensive attack and Campbell held strong against the Toronto shooters, keeping them shutout for the remainder of the game.
Western now travels to Toronto Friday to continue their quarter-final playoffs on Friday. Game three, if necessary, is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. at Thompson Arena.
Source: Western Sports Info
Waterloo - 0 @ Laurier - 4 (Laurier leads series 1-0)
WATERLOO, Ont. (February 13, 2013) - Forward Devon Skeats of Whitby, Ont., scored two goals and added an assist, all in the third period, as the No. 4 Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks opened their OUA Quarter-final series with a 4-0 victory over the Waterloo Warriors on Wednesday night.
The speedy winger scored the 14th and 15th playoff goals of her playoff career as a short-handed Hawks lineup once again kept the Warriors off the scoresheet. Dating back to last season, Laurier has not allowed Waterloo to score a goal in the last 308 minutes and six seconds, a span of over five games.
"It was a big third period for us," commented Skeats after the game. "When playoff games come around, it's like a second Christmas for me. I just get this energy and it works for me. I'm excited for this time of year again."
Skeats' third period performance was a critical one for the Hawks who started the game short-handed and lost two more players during the game. First, Candice Styles of Orangeville, Ont., left the game after a nasty knee-on-knee collision with Waterloo's Jessica Tracey of Woodslee, Ont., who was subsequently given a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct. Then Laura Brooker of Fergus, Ont., was forced to leave the game with a minor ailment leaving Laurier with just 14 skates for much of the game.
"It was good to see everyone stepped up tonight," commented captain Fiona Lester of Peterborough, Ont., after the game. "All the people who didn't have injuries and were healthy, it was awesome to see them step up and play great."
Two of those players stepping up for the Hawks were Jessie Hurrell of Palgrave, Ont., and Paula Lagamba of Toronto, who each scored their first goals of the playoffs. Meanwhile in net, Erika Thunder of Buffalo Point, Man., got the start and made 21 saves for her second career playoff shutout.
For the Warriors, Rebecca Bouwhuis of Orillia, Ont., turned away 31 shots in her first career playoff start.
With Waterloo playing their first playoff game in six years, Laurier jumped on the Warriors early on, firing 17 shots on goal in the opening 20 minutes. However, Bouwhuis held her team in it, including killing off the five-minute major penalty handed out to Tracey.
That kill gave the Warriors momentum moving into the second period and they took advantage, controlling the play for the first half of the second period but were unable to beat Thunder.
Laurier slowly turned their game around thanks to the line of Hurrell, Tammy Freiburger of Wingham, Ont., and Robyn Degagne of North Bay, Ont. The trio controlled play in the Warriors zone and were rewarded midway through the period when Freiburger centered in front to Hurrell who banged it past Bouwhuis to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.
Heading to the third up by a single goal, the Hawks came out and took the play to Waterloo. Lagamba extended the lead to two after some great cycle work on the boards before Skeats fired home a pair of markers past Bouwhuis to round out the scoring.
Laurier will now head across the street to Columbia Ice Field on Saturday for Game 2 of this series as they look for the sweep. Puck drop is set for 2 p.m.
Source: Laurier Sports Info
UOIT - 0 @ Guelph - 4 (Guelph leads series 1-0)
GUELPH, Ont. – The Guelph Gryphon women’s hockey team shutout the UOIT Ridgebacks tonight 4-0 at the Gryphon Centre in game one of the OUA quarterfinal best-of-three series.
The second game of the series will now move to Oshawa on Friday night (Feb. 15). Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. If a third game is needed the Gryphons will return home to Guelph and host the final game of the series on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
Stephanie Nehring earned the shutout for the Gryphons making 13 saves in the win. Gryphon goals were scored by Jessica Pinkerton, Amanda Parkins, Averi Nooren and Kaitlyn Mora.
The Gryphons came out strong keeping good offence with quick turnarounds when it was necessary. Guelph took the Ridgebacks by surprise with Jessica Pinkerton (Oshawa, ON) getting a breakaway goal at centre ice only six minutes into the period to take a 1-0 lead. This awoke the Ridgebacks who then came on aggressively on offence. Mid-way in the period the Ridgebacks attempted a ‘top shelf’ shot but Gryphon goalie Stephanie Nehring (Oshawa, ON) stood tall and made the save. To finish the period the Gryphons outshot the Ridgebacks 7-4.
The second period was exciting as both sides fought for the win. Amanda Parkins (Kitchener, ON) scored with just over five minutes remaining in the second on a beautiful shot through the butterfly hole in UOIT’s goalie with assistance from Jessica Pinkerton and Christine Grant (Mississauga, ON).
Guelph’s Averi Nooren (Aylmer, ON) scored in the third period at 9:07 to give the Gryphons a 3-0 lead. Guelph kept up a good pace in the period and continued to battle for the puck. Kaitlyn Mora (Guelph, ON) made an effort to get the puck in but was tripped on her way to the net causing a penalty shot in which she scored with ease.
Guelph outshot UOIT 31 shots to 13. Game two of the series is Friday night in Oshawa, puck drops at 7:30pm.
Source: Guelph Sports Info
