Sault Female Hockey crowns playoff champions

NEWS RELEASE

SAULT FEMALE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION

********************

Sault Female Hockey Crowns play-off Champions

The Sault Female Hockey Association wrapped up their playoff season this past week in fine style. The playoffs for all three divisions can be best described close, exciting, entertaining and probably some of the best hockey played in the history of Sault Female Hockey. All playoff games were decided by one goal margins.

In Pee Wee Division between Flakeboard Company and Meyers Munchies, the best-of-three series went the full three games and then some. Game one had Flakeboard hanging onto a one goal lead late into the third period, but Meyers came back to tie in the last minute of play, sending the game into overtime. The first five minute sudden death overtime period saw no team able to score. Midway through the second five minute overtime period, Meyers Munchies Natalie Roberts scored from a sharp angle to give Meyers a 3-2 victory and a one game to none lead.

Game two had Flakeboard again clinging to a lead late into the third period, this time with a two goal lead. They would need the two goal lead because Meyers came back to get within one late in the period, and still buzzing for more, but could not get the equalizer before regulation time ended. Flakeboard wins 4-3 to tie the series at one game a piece with game three sure to be as close.

Game three did not disappoint. Flakeboard jumped out to a 1-0 lead five minutes into the first period, but Meyers came back to tie it at 1-1 five minutes into the second. The remainder of the game was a see-saw battle, but no team could score again before regulation time ended, so game three was going to overtime. It was not until the last minute of play in period number six before someone would finally manage to put the game away, Lydia Murray from Flakeboard Company. Flakeboard wins 2-1 and wins the Pee Wee playoff championship.

Bantam Division play between Riuniti Banquet Halls and Sault College was much the same as the Pee Wee Division, very close and entertaining. Game one saw Sault College strike first, in the second period, on a goal by Jennifer Elliott. Riuniti came back a few minutes later with a goal by Jenna Boretz to end the second period tied 1-1. The third period was very tight checking with neither team having good scoring opportunites, which meant that game one was going to overtime. Period one of overtime solved nothing so the teams would be down to three-on-three and go into a second overtime period. Sault College would get the break that was needed when Riuniti was assessed a tripping penalty two minutes into the period. That break turned out to be in Riuniti's favour though when Alexandra Jefferson stepped over the Sault College blueline and deposited a beautiful wrist shot over the shoulder of Sault College goaltender Heather Douglas to give Riuniti game one 2-1.

Game two saw Sault College come out ready to even up the series. Sault College dominated most of the game, keeping the majority of the play in the second and third period in Riuniti end, however Riuniti goaltender Kelsey Bentrovato stopped everything that came her way. With time in the third period winding down to the last minute and Sault College still pressing, Mikayla Ferlaino of Riuniti picked up a loose puck at her own blueline and went in on a clear cut breakaway. She made a nice move on the Sault College goaltender to score on their only shot of the third period, with only 27 seconds left in the game. Riuniti took the game 1-0 and the series 2-0 to claim the Bantam tilte.

Intermediate play between Duke of Windsor and Best Western was almost a mirror image of the Bantam series. In game one Duke jumped out to the lead in the second period on a goal by Ashley Dellaire, only to see Best Western come back a few minutes later on a goal by Kristen Johnson. Duke controlled the game the rest of the way but could not get the go ahead goal. Late in the third period, Johnson scored again with a nice wrist shot over the glove of Duke goalie Jocelyn Ansell. Best Western hangs on and takes game one 1-0.

Game two saw the Duke come out and completely dominate play, outshooting their opponents by a wide margin. Best Western goalie Tasha McClelland was outstanding, making numerous difficult saves to keep the Duke off the scoreboard. Late in the third period, with Duke killing off a penalty, Katie Pietrzakowski intercepted a pass at the Duke blueline and went in on a breakaway. She made the move that counted and scored to give Best Western the lead. That lead would stand for the rest of the game to give Best Western the series and the Intermediate Championship.

************************************************************