February 23, 2014
WOMEN'S HOCKEY ROUNDUP: Gaels and Golden Hawks to faceoff in OUA championship series
Sunday, February 23
Toronto 1 @ Laurier 2
Source: Laurier Sports Info
Queen's 2 @ Guelph 1
Guelph, Ont. (February 23, 2014) – The Guelph Gryphons women's hockey team ended their playoff run and season with a 2-1 loss to the Queen's Gaels on Sunday afternoon at the Gryphon Centre in game three of the OUA semi final series.
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The Gryphons had an amazing season with a 21-3-0 record in the regular season, which included a 12 game win streak. The Gryphons had a 3-2 record in OUA playoffs.
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With the series tied at 1-1, both the Gryphons and the Gaels started game three of the semi final series in a must-win situation. Immediately the game was much like the others in the series, stuck in a back-and-forth defensive battle. The Gryphons started the game doing an excellent job keeping the Gaels boxed out and preventing them from setting up in front of the net. The game was stuck in the neutral zone, with both teams finding it hard to make it through opposing defenders to put any pressure on the goaltenders.
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The Gaels got the first power play of the game late in the first period after a hooking call on Michelle Sabourin at 16:26. The Gryphons were able to successfully kill off the penalty, with the Gaels finding it difficult to move the puck over the Guelph blue line. The Gaels were able to set up in front of the net for a very short time and got two shots off from the point through traffic, but Guelph goalie Stephanie Nehring was able to handle them easily and the game remained scoreless.
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Jessica Pinkertonwas able to get make her way through the Gael defenders and get a shot off from inside the crease, but was unfortunately unable to beat the Queen's goalie Mel Dodd-Moher (Stittsville, Ont.) and the first period ended with no score. The Gryphons and the Gaels had both the score and the shots on goal count tied, ending the period with eight shots on goal each.
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The Gaels started the second period aggressively, scoring in the first minute. Clare McKellar (London, Ont.) was able to make her way through the Gryphons defense on a breakaway, shooting from the top of the crease and finding the top corner of the net to make it 1-0 for the Gaels.
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Queen's was able to dominate possession in the second period, setting up in front of the net and hammering shots at both the Gryphons defenders and goalies. The Gryphons were unable to box out the Gaels and take possession of the puck. Finally a turnover had a Gryphon player able to capitalize and take the puck down the ice. Guelph was unable to turn that opportunity into a goal, and ultimately lost possession of the puck. The Gaels spent the majority of the second period pushing the Gryphons to the boards, making sure that there was no way they could get a pass to the centre of the ice.
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Queen's was able to get another breakaway goal after Taryn Pilon (Peterborough, Ont.) found the top right corner of the Gryphon net after a shot from the slot, to make it 2-0 for Queen's to end the second period.
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The Gryphons would get a break in the third period after a tripping call on Queen's player Shawna Griffin (Redwood Meadows, AB.) at 5:44. The Gryphons were quick to set up off the face off and less than a minute after the power play started Kaitlyn Mora was able to take a shot and make it 2-1 for Queen's at 6:25 on the power play, with Averi Nooren and Leigh Shilton on the assists.
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The momentum in the game shifted in Guelph's favour with nine shots on goal half way through the third period, and Queen's with none. The Gryphons would get another power play after a crosschecking call on Gael's player Courtenay Jacklin at 10:50. The Gryphons were quick to set up, almost scoring directly off the face off. A rebounded shot off the pads of Dodd-Moher would have Nooren set for a shot from inside the crease, but quick thinking from the Queen's goalie had her smothering the puck and stopping play. The Gaels would successfully kill the penalty and the score would remain at 2-1 for Queen's.
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The Gryphons would pull goaltender Stephanie Nehring, hoping to capitalize on the extra man, but were unable to tie up the game.
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The Gryphons outshot the Gaels 16-0 in the third period, and the total shots on goal would be 31-16. Despite an amazing effort by the Gryphons they would be unable to surpass the Gael's in scoring and the final score would be 2-1 for Queen's. The Gaels will now advance to the OUA finals and face either Toronto or Laurier.
Source: Guelph Sports Info
Friday, February 21
Laurier 0 @ Toronto 3
Nicole Kesteris backstopped the University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's hockey team to an impressive 3-0 win over the visiting Laurier Golden Hawks in Game 2 of the OUA semifinal series Friday night (Feb. 21) at Varsity Arena.
The win evens the best-of-three series at one game apiece, and sets up a deciding third game Sunday night in Waterloo.
Aurora, Ont., native Kesteris was the game's first star, making 35 saves for her first career playoff shutout.
Alie Brind'Amour-McClure (Waterdown, Ont.)Â also continued her strong post season play with a goal and an assist. The second-year centre came into the game leading all OUA players in the postseason with four goals before adding her fifth in this contest.
She and her linemates, Courtney Brind'Amour-McClure (Waterdown, Ont.) and Amanda Ricker (Ottawa, Ont.) have provided the bulk of the Blues offence so far in the playoffs. Courtney Brind'Amour-McClure and Pickering, Ont. native Kristi Riseley also scored for Toronto.
Both teams came prepared to play in the first period, playing at a frenetic pace that saw each team trade chances throughout the opening frame. Kesteris was sharp early, making several huge saves, including a right pad save late in the period on a breakaway chance by Golden Hawks defender Montana Merante.
The Blues quickly turned the puck back up ice, and shortly after, Jacqueline Sheffel (Waubaushene, Ont.) fought through a check and fired a pass across to Riseley who one-timed it past Laurier's goaltender Kayla Brown to put U of T up 1-0 with just 13 seconds left in the first.
Momentum turned briefly in the Golden Hawks favour in the second period, as they outshot the Blues 16-7 in the middle frame. But Kesteris kept the Blues ahead, stopping Laurier forward Devon Skeats on another breakaway early in the period. Toronto was able to capitalize on one of just a few chances in the period, when Courtney Brind'Amour-McClure picked up a rebound out front and buried it to increase the lead to two.
Kesteris finished the frame with yet another series of saves, and the Blues took a two goal lead into the final 20 minutes.
Toronto was able to find an extra gear, and gain momentum back from Laurier early in the third, drawing a couple of penalties to set up a 5-on-3 advantage. On the powerplay, Sonja Weidenfelder (Toronto) held the puck in at the line and slid it across to Stacey Oue (Scarborough), who took a few steps towards the net before she found Alie Brind'Amour-McClure. The Blues standout slapped home her fifth of the playoffs to give the home team a commanding 3-0 lead.
The Golden Hawks continued to attack right to the final buzzer, calling Brown to the bench for an extra attacker in the final minutes, but Kesteris stood tall and held on to earn her first-ever playoff shut out and even the series.
The third and deciding game of the series will be played this Sunday in Waterloo. Puck drop is 7:30 pm.
Source: Toronto Sports Info
Guelph 2 @ Queen's 1 (2OT)
KINGSTON, Ont. (February 21, 2014) – The No. 8 Queen's Gaels lost in double overtime 2-1 to the No.3 Guelph Gryphons in game two of their best-of-three semifinal game at the Memorial Centre in Kingston on Friday.
The opening period saw the two teams pick up right where they left off Wednesday night in Guelph, deadlocked in a defensive battle.
The two goalies were the story of the opening period, the Gaels Mel Dodd-Moher (Stittsville, Ont.) stopping all seven shots faced. Queen's had multiple powerplay opportunities including a full minute of five-on-three play. The Gaels could not take advantage however as Stephanie Nehring shut the door stopping all eight shots fired at her.
After the Gaels killed off two penalties in the second the scoreless game remained.
The third period saw the offensive action kick into gear and it was the Gaels scoring first. Alisha Sealey (Elora, Ont.) fired a pass towards the front of the Gryphon goal that Shawn Griffin (Redwood Meadows, Alta.) deflected past Nehring and into the net giving Queen's the 1-0 lead at 11:33.
In the dying minutes the Gryphons put on all the offensive pressure. With their goalie pulled Jessica Pinkerton got her first of the playoffs with only 36 seconds left shooting a loose puck in front past Dodd-Moher.
For the second straight game the teams headed to overtime. The ten minute opening overtime period ended with no goals and four Queen's shots to the Gryphons three. Dodd-Moher had 19 saves heading into the second overtime and Nehring 24.
Early in the double overtime a Griffin shot from the slot hit the cross-bar and layed in the crease momentarily before the whistle blew. After some confusion over whether the puck had actually gone in the refs called it no goal. Then at 3:25 Christine Grant walked in over the blue line and fired a shot over the glove of Dodd-Moher to give the Gryphons the win.
The two teams will decide the OUA semifinal matchup in game three on Sunday in Guelph at 2pm.
Source: Queen's Sports Info
Toronto 1 @ Laurier 2
WATERLOO, Ont. (February 23, 2014) - The No. 4 Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks women's hockey team is returning to the OUA Final thanks to a 2-1 victory over the No. 7 Toronto Varsity Blues on Sunday night at the Waterloo Recreation Complex.
In a wildly entertaining contest, the Hawks rallied from an early deficit with goals in the second and third period to knock off the Varsity Blues in the third and deciding game of the semifinal series. With the win, Laurier returns to the OUA Championship series after being eliminated in the semifinals a year ago.
"It was a fun game to be in tonight," commented head coach Rick Osborne after the victory. "I'm very proud of our vets. They learned a tough lesson last year in game three against Western and that's what we were focused on today. What an opportunity to show what we learned from last year and what an opportunity for new kids to start making some history here at Laurier."
"It's great for our team," added third year forward Jessie Hurrell of Palgrave, Ont., who assisted on the game-winning goal. "We just wanted to make it to the finals to play Queen's and now we have home ice advantage against Queen's too. We're just looking forward to that now."
After each team won a game in convincing fashion in the opening two contests of the series, Sunday night's game was a battle. Both teams fought for every inch of ice while shots were hard to come by as the Hawks and Blues blocked numerous attempts on goal.
However, one shot did get through to the net early on and that was from Toronto's Sonja Weidenfelder of Toronto. The third year forward was able to convert a one-time opportunity on the powerplay as she got the puck through traffic and into the top of the net, beating a helpless Amanda Smith of Burlington, Ont., to give the Blues a 1-0 lead less than three minutes into the game.
Laurier was quick to respond though when they got their first powerplay 11 minutes later. Defenceman Blair Connelly's (Amherstburg, Ont.) point shot found its way past Blues goalie Nicole Kesteris of Aurora, Ont., to even the score at one. The goal was Connelly's second of the playoffs after going through the regular season without finding the back of the net once.
Late in the period, the Blues would get another powerplay but this time, team captain Laura Brooker of Fergus, Ont., took it upon herself to make sure nothing got through to the net. In a 20-second sequence to close out the period, the fourth year forward blocked three consecutive shots to ensure the game remained tied after 20 minutes.
"I'm sore, laughed Brooker when asked about her shot-blocking prowess after the game. "I took a few, well, everywhere. I was on the ground being shot at, so I feel a little sore but I'll bounce back."
While the second period was scoreless for both teams, the intensity of the game picked up. Three more powerplays were handed out but the Hawks and Blues could not convert and the game headed to the third period still locked at one.
The Hawks would get the breakthrough they needed early in the final frame. Tammy Freiburger of Wingham, Ont., tipped Hurrell's shot past Kesteris to give the purple and gold their first lead of the contest.
Following the goal, the Blues upped their offensive zone pressure but the Hawks defence and Smith stood tall and repelled Toronto's final five shots on goal over the final 17 minutes of play to clinch the win and the series.
Laurier now advances to face the No. 8 Queen's Gaels in the best-of-three OUA Championship series. The Gaels upset the No. 3 Guelph Gryphons in the semifinals to advance to the final.
"[It'll be] defence first and crash the net," said Hurrell when asked what the key to the final will be for the Hawks. "[We need to] stay on their good players and shut them down, and let our team play their game."
Source: Laurier Sports Info
Queen's 2 @ Guelph 1
Guelph, Ont. (February 23, 2014) – The Guelph Gryphons women's hockey team ended their playoff run and season with a 2-1 loss to the Queen's Gaels on Sunday afternoon at the Gryphon Centre in game three of the OUA semi final series.
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The Gryphons had an amazing season with a 21-3-0 record in the regular season, which included a 12 game win streak. The Gryphons had a 3-2 record in OUA playoffs.
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With the series tied at 1-1, both the Gryphons and the Gaels started game three of the semi final series in a must-win situation. Immediately the game was much like the others in the series, stuck in a back-and-forth defensive battle. The Gryphons started the game doing an excellent job keeping the Gaels boxed out and preventing them from setting up in front of the net. The game was stuck in the neutral zone, with both teams finding it hard to make it through opposing defenders to put any pressure on the goaltenders.
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The Gaels got the first power play of the game late in the first period after a hooking call on Michelle Sabourin at 16:26. The Gryphons were able to successfully kill off the penalty, with the Gaels finding it difficult to move the puck over the Guelph blue line. The Gaels were able to set up in front of the net for a very short time and got two shots off from the point through traffic, but Guelph goalie Stephanie Nehring was able to handle them easily and the game remained scoreless.
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Jessica Pinkertonwas able to get make her way through the Gael defenders and get a shot off from inside the crease, but was unfortunately unable to beat the Queen's goalie Mel Dodd-Moher (Stittsville, Ont.) and the first period ended with no score. The Gryphons and the Gaels had both the score and the shots on goal count tied, ending the period with eight shots on goal each.
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The Gaels started the second period aggressively, scoring in the first minute. Clare McKellar (London, Ont.) was able to make her way through the Gryphons defense on a breakaway, shooting from the top of the crease and finding the top corner of the net to make it 1-0 for the Gaels.
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Queen's was able to dominate possession in the second period, setting up in front of the net and hammering shots at both the Gryphons defenders and goalies. The Gryphons were unable to box out the Gaels and take possession of the puck. Finally a turnover had a Gryphon player able to capitalize and take the puck down the ice. Guelph was unable to turn that opportunity into a goal, and ultimately lost possession of the puck. The Gaels spent the majority of the second period pushing the Gryphons to the boards, making sure that there was no way they could get a pass to the centre of the ice.
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Queen's was able to get another breakaway goal after Taryn Pilon (Peterborough, Ont.) found the top right corner of the Gryphon net after a shot from the slot, to make it 2-0 for Queen's to end the second period.
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The Gryphons would get a break in the third period after a tripping call on Queen's player Shawna Griffin (Redwood Meadows, AB.) at 5:44. The Gryphons were quick to set up off the face off and less than a minute after the power play started Kaitlyn Mora was able to take a shot and make it 2-1 for Queen's at 6:25 on the power play, with Averi Nooren and Leigh Shilton on the assists.
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The momentum in the game shifted in Guelph's favour with nine shots on goal half way through the third period, and Queen's with none. The Gryphons would get another power play after a crosschecking call on Gael's player Courtenay Jacklin at 10:50. The Gryphons were quick to set up, almost scoring directly off the face off. A rebounded shot off the pads of Dodd-Moher would have Nooren set for a shot from inside the crease, but quick thinking from the Queen's goalie had her smothering the puck and stopping play. The Gaels would successfully kill the penalty and the score would remain at 2-1 for Queen's.
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The Gryphons would pull goaltender Stephanie Nehring, hoping to capitalize on the extra man, but were unable to tie up the game.
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The Gryphons outshot the Gaels 16-0 in the third period, and the total shots on goal would be 31-16. Despite an amazing effort by the Gryphons they would be unable to surpass the Gael's in scoring and the final score would be 2-1 for Queen's. The Gaels will now advance to the OUA finals and face either Toronto or Laurier.
Source: Guelph Sports Info
Friday, February 21
Laurier 0 @ Toronto 3
Nicole Kesteris backstopped the University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's hockey team to an impressive 3-0 win over the visiting Laurier Golden Hawks in Game 2 of the OUA semifinal series Friday night (Feb. 21) at Varsity Arena.
The win evens the best-of-three series at one game apiece, and sets up a deciding third game Sunday night in Waterloo.
Aurora, Ont., native Kesteris was the game's first star, making 35 saves for her first career playoff shutout.
Alie Brind'Amour-McClure (Waterdown, Ont.)Â also continued her strong post season play with a goal and an assist. The second-year centre came into the game leading all OUA players in the postseason with four goals before adding her fifth in this contest.
She and her linemates, Courtney Brind'Amour-McClure (Waterdown, Ont.) and Amanda Ricker (Ottawa, Ont.) have provided the bulk of the Blues offence so far in the playoffs. Courtney Brind'Amour-McClure and Pickering, Ont. native Kristi Riseley also scored for Toronto.
Both teams came prepared to play in the first period, playing at a frenetic pace that saw each team trade chances throughout the opening frame. Kesteris was sharp early, making several huge saves, including a right pad save late in the period on a breakaway chance by Golden Hawks defender Montana Merante.
The Blues quickly turned the puck back up ice, and shortly after, Jacqueline Sheffel (Waubaushene, Ont.) fought through a check and fired a pass across to Riseley who one-timed it past Laurier's goaltender Kayla Brown to put U of T up 1-0 with just 13 seconds left in the first.
Momentum turned briefly in the Golden Hawks favour in the second period, as they outshot the Blues 16-7 in the middle frame. But Kesteris kept the Blues ahead, stopping Laurier forward Devon Skeats on another breakaway early in the period. Toronto was able to capitalize on one of just a few chances in the period, when Courtney Brind'Amour-McClure picked up a rebound out front and buried it to increase the lead to two.
Kesteris finished the frame with yet another series of saves, and the Blues took a two goal lead into the final 20 minutes.
Toronto was able to find an extra gear, and gain momentum back from Laurier early in the third, drawing a couple of penalties to set up a 5-on-3 advantage. On the powerplay, Sonja Weidenfelder (Toronto) held the puck in at the line and slid it across to Stacey Oue (Scarborough), who took a few steps towards the net before she found Alie Brind'Amour-McClure. The Blues standout slapped home her fifth of the playoffs to give the home team a commanding 3-0 lead.
The Golden Hawks continued to attack right to the final buzzer, calling Brown to the bench for an extra attacker in the final minutes, but Kesteris stood tall and held on to earn her first-ever playoff shut out and even the series.
The third and deciding game of the series will be played this Sunday in Waterloo. Puck drop is 7:30 pm.
Source: Toronto Sports Info
Guelph 2 @ Queen's 1 (2OT)
KINGSTON, Ont. (February 21, 2014) – The No. 8 Queen's Gaels lost in double overtime 2-1 to the No.3 Guelph Gryphons in game two of their best-of-three semifinal game at the Memorial Centre in Kingston on Friday.
The opening period saw the two teams pick up right where they left off Wednesday night in Guelph, deadlocked in a defensive battle.
The two goalies were the story of the opening period, the Gaels Mel Dodd-Moher (Stittsville, Ont.) stopping all seven shots faced. Queen's had multiple powerplay opportunities including a full minute of five-on-three play. The Gaels could not take advantage however as Stephanie Nehring shut the door stopping all eight shots fired at her.
After the Gaels killed off two penalties in the second the scoreless game remained.
The third period saw the offensive action kick into gear and it was the Gaels scoring first. Alisha Sealey (Elora, Ont.) fired a pass towards the front of the Gryphon goal that Shawn Griffin (Redwood Meadows, Alta.) deflected past Nehring and into the net giving Queen's the 1-0 lead at 11:33.
In the dying minutes the Gryphons put on all the offensive pressure. With their goalie pulled Jessica Pinkerton got her first of the playoffs with only 36 seconds left shooting a loose puck in front past Dodd-Moher.
For the second straight game the teams headed to overtime. The ten minute opening overtime period ended with no goals and four Queen's shots to the Gryphons three. Dodd-Moher had 19 saves heading into the second overtime and Nehring 24.
Early in the double overtime a Griffin shot from the slot hit the cross-bar and layed in the crease momentarily before the whistle blew. After some confusion over whether the puck had actually gone in the refs called it no goal. Then at 3:25 Christine Grant walked in over the blue line and fired a shot over the glove of Dodd-Moher to give the Gryphons the win.
The two teams will decide the OUA semifinal matchup in game three on Sunday in Guelph at 2pm.
Source: Queen's Sports Info
