Women's Hockey League opens its fifth season

Sault Ste. Marie’s recreational Women’s Hockey League kicked off its fifth season Saturday, November 19th.

Eleven teams and 148 players have signed up to take part in the city’s fastest growing league.

After 4 successful seasons at the Echo Bay Sportsplex, the WHL has moved its home venue to the city, using Rankin arena Saturdays from 6-8pm and McMeeken arena Sundays from 4-9pm.

League organizers, Sharon Buehner and Lorie Springall, have mixed feelings about moving the league out of Echo Bay.

“Their office staff and the arena staff have been so accommodating and so supportive of our league, it’s tough to tell them that we’re not returning,” said Buehner. “Moving to the city, however, will allow us to start our season earlier which is even more important now that we have so many teams.”

Springall added ,“As organizers and referees, it was always a pleasure dealing with Eric (“The Zamboni Guy”) and Ralph (“The Snack Bar King”). We’re going to miss those guys.” Returning team sponsors include Crawford’s Canines (Dr. Alan Crawford), Source for Sports, Lafarge, Algoma Insurance, The Country Way, Skip’s Kweok (Skip Jones) and White Oak Paint. The WHL welcomes its new sponsors: Sports Gold, Ontario Concrete and B&J Trucking of Garden River.

The league’s eleventh team (created at the 11th hour to accommodate high registration numbers) does not yet have a team sponsor. Interested parties should contact league organizers.

*** GAME RESULTS:

Skip’s Kweok – 8 Country Way – 3

In the league opener, Leah-Anne Pine scored 4 times for Skip’s and Sue Chiblow scored twice in an 8-3 win over Country Way. Marg VanLandeghem and Elaine Angelic had one goal each for the winners. JoAnne Theissen (nee Jones) had two assists along with Sue Sherrard and Angelic. Single assists went to Pine, Chiblow and newbee, Sara McCabe. Scoring for Country Way were Trish Evans (2) and Sherry Boston. Michelle Dillenbeck, Heidi Frech and Debbie Shubat had one assist each.

White Oak Paint – 8 B&J Trucking – 8

In Saturday’s other game, White Oak Paint and B&J Trucking battled to an 8-8 tie. Newbee, Jennifer Greco, had four goals and three assists for White Oak, including the tying goal with 32 seconds left in the game. Anita Kovac scored her first career goal and then followed it up with a second one for White Oak. “I’ve waited two years for my goal and finally got two in a row tonight! Whoohoo!” exclaimed Kovac. Karen Bell and Debbie Beauchamp scored the others. Veteran Beauchamp also picked up four assists while Lisa Case had 2 assists and Lori Bonnell one.

Sports Gold – 4 The Eleventh Team – 2

In Sunday action Sports Gold beat The Eleventh Team 4-2 on the strength of Andrea Jarzombek’s two goals and one assist. Kathy Pinkse and Tracey Maitland also scored while Donna Smith, Jean Feagan and Lori Swan each earned one assist. Pam Jurich (nee Linklater) and pick up player, Joanne Pine, scored for The Eleventh Team. Jurich also had one assist along with Amanda Fata.

Skip’s Kweok – 8 B&J Trucking – 4

Skip’s Kweok matched their first game output of 8 goals, defeating B&J Trucking 8-4. Sue Sherrard, Elaine Angelic, Sue Chiblow and Mona Jones had two goals each for Skip’s. Jones also had two assists one assist going to JoAnne Theissen, Leah-Anne Pine, rookie Amber Niganobe, Angelic and Sherrard. Brenda Sayers scored twice for B&J while teammates Deb Nolan and Rosalee Boissoneau each scored once. Joanne Pine had two helpers with single helpers to Natalie Barry, Nolan and Boissoneau.

Algoma Insurance – 3 Ontario Concrete – 1

Algoma Insurance skated to a 3-1 win over Ontario Concrete. Rookie Pat Baldassarro had a goal and an assist for Algoma while Debbie “Digger” Desgagne and rookie Deb Johnson each scored once. Assists went to Tanya Thompson and newbees Michelle Carter, Nancy Houle and Julie Holland. Christine Trivers scored Ontario Concrete’s only goal with Kristy Kernaghen and rookie Kathy Berdux getting the assists.

Source for Sports – 4 Lafarge – 1

Source for Sports won their opening game of the season 4-1 over Lafarge. Rookies Julie Laforce and Chantal Anderson each scored once for Source along with veterans Carrie Mancuso and Kim Chapman. Chapman’s goal, with 40 seconds left in the game, marked her first career goal after two years in the league. Her strategically placed shot deflected off the skate of a Lafarge defender and into the net. (It would seem that someone owes someone a beverage for that one). Lisa Venier had two assists with Jenny Sayers, Donna May Sayers-Lariviere and Lisa Turco getting one assist each. Patti Storozuk had Lafarge’s lone goal, assisted by Sarah Fischer.

Crawford’s Canines – 5 White Oak Paint – 5

In Sunday’s final game, Robyn Bourck picked up a natural hattrick (3 goals in a row) and then added a fourth for Crawford’s Canines as they played to a 5-5 tie with White Oak Paint. Rookie Terri Lynn Giciuk had Crawford’s other goal while assists went to Leslie Bois (2), Heather Coutu, Deedee Watson and Suzanne Dunn. White Oak’s Debbie Beauchamp scored twice and had one assist while Anita Kovac, Lisa Case and Karen Gartshore each scored once and added a helper. Single assists went to Chris Elliott and Julie Laroque.

*** UPCOMING GAMES:

With the Steel City Classic boys hockey tournament taking over the Rankin next Saturday, there will be no WHL games that night. The next set of games will be Sunday, November 27th at McMeeken arena beginning at 4pm.

(Submitted by Lorie Springall)