Peace Country Female Hockey League: New and Old News
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PROVINCIALS 2011
Senior A - March 5-7 - Hosted by NAFHA (Edmonton)
Panthers prowl to a third straight Alberta banner
By Terry Farrell, Herald-Tribune staff
Updated 4 months ago
Grande Prairie hockey has a dynasty in its midst.
The Grande Prairie Panthers won the Senior Female A Provincial Hockey Championships in Edmonton over the weekend, to successfully defend their title... again.
It's a three-peat.
The Panthers were nearly perfect in Edmonton. They opened with a 2-2 tie against the Edmonton Renegades on Thursday, then ran the table, winning their final two round- robin games, and both playoff contests.
"It was a pretty good weekend – the girls played really well," said coach Darren Craipley.
The Panthers beat the Calgary Unknowns 6-0 on Friday, then completed the round robin with a 7-2 victory over the Westlock Bandits on Saturday night.
Their 2-0-1 record was identical to that of the Renegades, but based on a superior goals differential, the Edmonton team took top spot in the pool.
No worries.
The Panthers played the Calgary Rivulettes – the top team in the other pool – in a crossover semifinal match and won 3-1, setting up a rematch against the Renegades for the championship banner.
The Renegades earned their spot in the championship match with a 5-0 victory over the Bon Accord Raiders.
The Panthers made the proper adjustments from the round-robin and beat the Renegades 4-0 in the final.
"I have three No. 1 lines on my team, so that makes it pretty simple for me," said Craipley. "I just got them to tighten up defensively and let them take care of the rest."
The Panthers did have a bit of an ace in the hole for the playoffs. Former national U-22 team member Steph Jones, who coaches the Quadra Chemicals Midget AAA female Storm, could not make it to the round-robin games, but joined the team for the playoff round.
She had two goals in the championship game.
Maryanne Ottahal and Kayla Scobey scored the other Grande Prairie markers in the gold-medal match and Cathy Craipley picked up the shutout, her second of the tournament. She was the goalie of record in every game for the Panthers.
"We picked up Daniella Alfonso from Hythe as back-up, but Cathy played all the games," he said. "She's a really good goalie and she played really well."
Good thing. It could have caused some off-ice strife had Darren felt the need to pull Cathy at any point. They are married.
"Yeah, boy, if there comes a day where she's off, that will be a little rough," he said laughing.
The Panthers prepared for provincials with play in the Peace Country Female Hockey League, A senior league similar to the men's North Peace Hockey League, in that there are teams of different calibres playing against each other throughout the season, in preparation for their respective provincial runs.
The Panthers are the only 'A' squad in the league, but still had to get through the Raiders, who play out of the Northern Alberta Female Hockey Association, to qualify for provincials. The Panthers won that two-game, total-goal series, winning 5-2 in Bon Accord, then 3-2 in Grande Prairie.
The Raiders still qualified for the provincials by beating an Edmonton team for a back-door berth.
Bon Accord was the only team in the tournament that the Panthers has seen prior to the weekend. Craipley said not knowing the opposition did not call for much adjustment in his preparation of the team for its games.
"Well, I know we have a great team – we have won the 'Albertas' two years in a row, so as long as we are playing our best, I believe we can handle anybody," he said. "That's how I approached it."
Next up for the Panthers is a trip to Manitoba for the longest-running female hockey tournament in existence – the Western Shield – to battle for the Western Canadian championship.
The Panthers won the bronze medal at the tournament last year and are looking to improve on that.
"We are definitely going for gold this year," Craipley said.
The 2011 Western Shield ran April 8-10 at the Dawson Centre in Winnipeg where the Panthers won the gold medal to capture the Western Canadian Shield.
Congratulations Grande Prairie Panthers!!
Senior B - March 18-20 - Hosted by Kitscoty
Peace River Sharks - Provincial Senior B Champions!!
With four one-goal games and two overtime wins, it was a weekend of hard-fought hockey for the Peace River Sharks and it proved to be all worth it as the team brought home their first-ever provincial gold medal.
“I was happy to see the girls win gold after three straight years losing in bronze medal matches to place fourth.” said head coach Dean Schlitz. “Everybody played good front to back and we outshot every team.”
The Plan "B" Welding Sharks travelled to Kitscoty, Alberta March 18-20 to take on the best Senior B Female teams in the province.
They started off the tournament with a shaky start against the host team Kitscoty Beavers. The Beavers got on the scoreboard early in the first period. Despite outshooting their opponents, the Sharks struggled to get passed the Beaver’s netminder and in the third period the hometown team was ahead by two.
The Sharks rallied for a goal late in the third period but the clock ran down on their efforts to tie it up.
In their second game, the Sharks faced Peace County Female Hockey League champs the Grovedale Vipers. The Sharks have yet to beat their league rivals this year and jumped at the chance for vengeance.
The Sharks opened scoring in the first period with an unassisted goal by Captain Becky Zimmerman. In the second period forward Melinda Auger notched a goal with help from center Erika Peetso.
The Vipers cut the lead in half with a goal late in the third but were unable to come from behind. The loss sent the Vipers to the consolation round.
Advancing to the semi-finals, the Sharks faced Bow Valley Grizzlies. In a tight match the game went to overtime and defensemen Kaitlyn McNutt notched the game winner.
In the gold-medal match the Sharks faced another league rival Hythe Colts. The Sharks opened scoring in the first period with a goal from defenseman Vanessa Oslie on a pass from Peetso. In the second period Hythe scored two back-to-back goals. It wasn’t until just over a minute left in the third period McNutt buried an opportunity from her defensive partner Cara Schlitz forcing the game to overtime.
Hythe got into penalty trouble in overtime and the Sharks capitalized on a two-man advantage at 5:55 in the 10-minute period. Schlitz picked up the overtime winner on a pass from Zimmerman. The Sharks benched erupted in cheers as the team spilled to the ice to celebrate the win.
The gold-medal win is the first in the teams’ 13-year history. In previous years the team has won two provincial bronze medals and one silver medal.
Submitted by Kristy Lesh
Congrats to all Peace Country teams who represented our zone. Great job ladies!!
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Wednesday, July 22
League Stats 2008-2009
A DIVISION
TOP 5 TOTAL POINTS TOP 5 GOALS
1. KERRY MCDONALD (GRIM) 51 1. KERRY MCDONALD (GRIM) 38
2. ERIKA PEETSO (GRIM) 27 2. MICHELLE van STAM (NPE) 18
3. MEGAN TRARBAK (GROVE) 23 3. DANIELLLE MAZUREK (GROVE) 14
3. MICHELLE van STAM (NPE) 23 4. LINDSAY McPHERSON (GROVE) 13
5. DANIELLLE MAZUREK (GROVE) 21 5. KELLY GODEL (GPP) 12
TOP 5 ASSISTS TOP 5 MOST PENALTY MINUTES
1. ERIKA PEETSO (GRIM) 22 1. REBECCA ZIMMERMAN (PR) 54 MIN
2. KERRY McDONALD (GRIM) 13 2. TRINA PASHKO (PR) 46 MIN
2. MEGAN TRARBAK (GROV) 13 3. SABRINA BALL (GRIM) 30 MIN
4. AMBER PRIOR (GPP) 11 4. MELANIE JOHNSON (H) 24 MIN
5. REBECCA ZIMMERMAN (PR) 10 5. CARA SCHLITZ (PR) 22 MIN
5. JENN DODD (GPP) 10 5. KERRY McDONALD (GRIM) 22 MIN
TOP 5 GOALIES GAA TOP 4 TEAM PENALTY MINUTES
1. SALENE YOUNG (GPP) 1.30 1. PEACE RIVER 180 MIN
2. CATHY CRAIPLEY (GPP) 1.34 2. GROVEDALE 155 MIN
3. KIM LAMBERT (GRIM) 2.06 3. HYTHE 148 MIN
4. TRYSHA SYDORUK (GROV) 2.20 4. G. P. PANTHERS 122 MIN
5. RONI DIEBERT (PR) 2.50
B DIVISION
TOP 5 TOTAL POINTS TOP 5 GOALS
1. CREE McLEAN (STL) 51 1. CREE McLEAN (STL) 33
2. ERIN NAPIO (STL) 48 2. ERIN NAPIO (STL) 29
3. REBA NAPIO (STL) 16 3. ELISHA LAMOUCHE (STL) 10
4. ELISHA LAMOUCHE (STL) 15 4. LISA FOSTER (SL) 8
5. PAIGE FOSTER (SL) 13 4. KRISTI STUCKLESCHWEIGER (GPR) 8
TOP 5 ASSISTS TOP 5 MOST PENALTY MINUTES
1. ERIN NAPIO (STL) 19 1. CASSIE AUGER (HP) 24 MIN
2. CREE McLEAN (STL) 18 2. CREE McLEAN (STL) 21 MIN
3. REBA NAPIO (STL) 9 3. MELANIE McLEAN (STL) 18 MIN
4. PAIGE FOSTER (SL) 6 4. JESSIE WILLIER (HP) 12 MIN
4. TRINA VERCHOLUK (SL) 6 5. SAM ROMKEYS (STL) 11 MIN
4. APRIL LAROSE (HP) 6 5. CLAIRESS MANICHOOSE (STL) 11 MIN
4. LINDSAY HAMM (GPR) 6
TOP 3 GOALIES GAA TOP 3 TEAM PENALTY MINUTES
1. MEGAN MELNYCZUK (SL) .67 1. STURGION LAKE 91 MIN
2. CHRISTINE TANASIUK (SL) 1.20 2. HIGH PRAIRIE 52 MIN
3. CRYSTAL GILBERTSON (GPR) 3.00 3. GP REDNECKZ 46 MIN
REC DIVISION
TOP 5 TOTAL POINTS TOP 5 GOALS
1. LORI RECHIO (HL) 15 1. ROBIN GARDECKI (M) 9
2. CHAYNA ALEXANDER (HL) 11 1. BRENDA WALL (LC) 9
3. TANA LAWON (HL) 10 1. TANA LAWON (HL) 9
3. ROBIN GARDECKI (M) 10 4. LORI RECHIO (HL) 8
5. BRENDA WALL (LC) 9 5. CHAYNA ALEXANDER (HL) 7
5. STEPHANIE WIEBE (LC) 7
TOP 4 ASSISTS TOP 5 MOST PENALTY MINUTES
1. LORI RECHIO (HL) 7 1. DEE GORDON (G) 15 MIN
2. KYLA REVER (M) 4 2. BRITTNEY LEIN (M) 12 MIN
2. CHAYNA AKEXANDER (HL) 4 3. ALISON LEIN (M) 10 MIN
2. ROXIE BROCKLEBANK (HL) 4 3. JEANNIE CARDINAL (G) 10 MIN
5. JEN GRECHNER (M) 8 MIN
GOALIES GAA TEAM PENALTY MINUTES
1. LORRETTA YAKINNEAH (HL) 2.48 1. MANNING 46 MIN
2. LEANNE BRAUN (LC) 2.84 2. HIGH LEVEL 39 MIN
3. RONI DIEBERT (G) 3.27 3. GRIMSHAW 31 MIN
4. MELANIE HENITIUK (M) 6.14 4. LA CRETE 24 MIN
Tuesday, March 24
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
2008/2009 LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
A DIVISION: GRIMSHAW HUSTLERS
B DIVISION: SLAVE LAKE KODIAKS
REC DIVISION HIGH LEVEL CHEVY CRUISERS
Tuesday, March 24
LEAGUE PLAYOFF CHAMPIONS
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2009 PLAYOFF CHAMPIONS
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR PLAYOFF CHAMPIONS
A DIVISION: GRANDE PRAIRIE PANTHERS
B DIVISION: STURGEON LAKE CHILL
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PROVINCIALS 2009
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Provincial Senior Female A
Grande Prairie Panthers win Provincial Gold defeating the Irma Aces 2-1. The Panthers will now represent Alberta at the Western Canadian Shield in Calgary, April 2-5.
Good Luck, Panthers!!
Provincial Senior Female B
Grimshaw Hustlers win Provincial Gold defeating Grovedale Vipers 3-2.
Grovedale Vipers win Provincial Silver
Peace River Sharks finish 4th in the Bronze medal match losing in a sudden death shootout with the Kitscoty Beavers.
CONGRATULATIONS to all the teams for a great Peace Country showing!! Well done ladies!!!
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Tuesday, April 29
League Stats 2007-2008
TOP 10 GOALS TOP 10 ASSISTS
1 KARA OKEMOW 29 HP 1 KALEY ZAICHOWSKY 20 GROV
2 BECKY ZIMMERMAN 27 PR 2 CARA SCHLITZ 19 PR
3 MICHELLE van STAM 22 NPE 3 MICHELLE van STAM 14 NPE
4 CANDACE GREEN 21 W 4 BECKY ZIMMERMAN 13 PR
4 CARA SCHLITZ 21 PR 4 ASHLEY TENNEY 13 GROV
6 KAYLEY ZAICHOWSKY 19 GROV. 6 TRINA PASHKO 12 PR
6 TAWNYA GOUGH 19 G 7 TERRI HEAD 11 GROV
8 LEANNE VANDELIGT 17 GROV 7 TERRA WILLIER 11 HP
9 JULIE GIESBRECHT 19 NPE 7 KRISTEN DYKALSKI 11 G
10 ASHLEY TENNEY 15 GROV. 10 ERIKA PEETSO 10 G
TOP 10 GOALS AND ASSISTS TOP 10 GOALIES
1 BECKY ZIMMERMAN 40 PR 1 TRISHA SYDORUK .33 GROV
1 CARA SCHLITZ 40 PR 2 NIKKI FORD .56 GROV
3 KALEY ZAICHOWSKY 39 GROV 3 CATHY GARRETT-CRAPLEY .67 G
4 MICHELLE van STAM 36 NPE 4 CANDACE LOEWEN .87 NPE
5 KARA OKEMOW 34 HP 5 KRISY PROVOST 1.00 PR
6 ERIKA PEETSO 29 G 6 RENEE ARDILL 2.00 NPE
7 CANDACE GREEN 28 W 6 RONI DIEBERT 2.00 G
7 ASHLEY TENNEY 28 GROV 8 MEAGAN MELNYCZUK 2.25 SL
9 LEANNE VANDELIGT 26 GROV 8 RENELLE BLANCHETTE 2.25 GPR
10 LINDSAY L'OISEAU 23 PR 10 MALLORY YANESHEWSKI 2.36 H
TOP 10 ( MOST PENALTY MINUTES) TOP 5 TEAMS (MOST PENALTY MIN)
1 BECKY ZIMMERMAN 58 PR 1 PEACE RIVER 214
2 JODY CARPENTER 40 W 2 WEMBLEY 173
3 TRINA PASHKO 36 PR 3 GROVEDALE 154
4 CARA SCHLITZ 28 PR 4 GP REDNECKZ 138
4 ARDITH LESTER 28 SL 5 HYTHE 131
6 JENNIFER WALKER 27 GPR
7 CHELSEA RISBRIDGER 26 SL
8 CREE McLEAN 24 ST
9 DANA UTZ 23 GPR
10 JACI McNAUGHTON 22 H
WORLD MASTERS GAMES 2005
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Roster:
Renee Ardill - Goal - North Peace Eagles
Cathy Garrett - Goal - Grande Prairie Panthers
Dawn Taylor-Bidewell - Defence - Grande Prairie Aces
Sylvie Blanchard - Forward - Donnelly Shedevils
Stacey Wollum - Forward - Grimshaw Hustlers
Amber Prior -Forward - Grande Prairie Panthers
Mona Diebert - Defence - Grimshaw Hustlers
Glenda Calloway - Forward - Peace River Sharks
Ann Sawyer - Forward - North Peace Eagles
Cheryl Robak - Forward - Grande Prairie Aces
Debbie White - Forward - Grande Prairie Panthers
Judy Bolingbroke - Defence - Dawson Creek Canucks
Barb Turcotte - Forward - Peace River Sharks
Carole Dion - Forward - Donnelly SheDevils
Lori Kercher - Forward - Grande Prairie Panthers
Carolyn Chenard-Leifbroer - Defence - Grimshaw Hustlers
Doris Cote - Forward - Donnelly SheDevils
RESULTS:
Game 1 PCFHL Stars - 2 DV Mixed Ups - 1
Glenda Calloway opened the scoring by putting away her own rebound. With 9.4 seconds remaining on the clock, Judy Bolingbroke potted one to give the Stars the lead and eventual win.
Game 2 PCFHL Stars - 2 Team UGO - 2
Once again drama prevailed in a close battle between these two teams. Team UGO opened the scoring in the first period on a rebound let out by Cathy Garrett but shortly thereafter, Amber Prior tied the game with a brilliant backhand to the top corner. Team Ugo went ahead in the second period on a breakaway shot beating Cathy Garrett. With 40 seconds remaining, Amber Prior potted the second stars goal to tie the game.
Game 3 PCFHL Stars (2) CanWest (2)
A very close game, right to the wire. The Stars were able to pull off a tie with their tight defensive game. The best game the stars played all tournament.
Gold Medal Final PCFHL Stars (1) CanWest (4)
A great game with end to end rushes and everything you would want in a gold medal final. The Stars put a great fight but CanWest was too strong on this day.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL PCFHL STARS, YOU DID A TREMENDOUS JOB AND REPRESENTED THE PEACE COUNTRY AND OUR LEAGUE WITH CLASS. YOU ARE A GREAT BUNCH OF GALS AND I'M PROUD TO HAVE PLAYED WITH YOU. CAT
CHEERS ON THE SILVER MEDAL!!!!
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PANTHERS WIN WESTERN CANADIANS!!
The Grande Prairie Panthers went undefeated for the second straight year at the Western Canadian Shield held in Dauphin, Manitoba. In game 1, the Panthers faces the Winnipeg Aces and dominated with a 5-2 win. Nicole Klassen scored twice and earned MVP honors along with Amber Prior.
Game two against Yukon (Whitehorse) was a much closer game with the Panthers winning 2-1. Game three against Saskatchewan (Regina Vipers) was very close in that the Panthers gave up a 3-1 lead and had to settle for a 3-3 tie. Game four versus British Columbia (Kamloops Vibe)ended in a 5-0 win for the Panthers.
The Panthers ended up playing Team Manitoba in the final for the gold medal and this game was nothing like the first one played in the round robin. The Panthers opened the scoring early in the first period on a goal by Haley Hommy and followed it up with a second goal a few minutes left in the period by Melody Howard. It was a close and hard fought match that saw the Panthers end it in the third with an empty net goal by Haley Hommy to make the score 3-0. Cathy Garrett earned the shutout and MVP honors. The game was plagued with many penalties most of which went to Manitoba in the dying minutes of the third period disabling any comeback attempt.
The Grande Prairie Panthers are honored to win the Western Canadian Shield for the second year in a row. They would like to thank the PCFHL players and fans who have supported them this year and also extend congratulations to the Northern Athletic Wear Aces for winning Provincial Silver and to the Peace River Sharks for winning Provincial Bronze. It is a great thing to see one third of our league teams pick up Provincial hardware!! Thanks again!.
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SENIOR A PROVINCIAL PLAYOFFS (Alberta)
Grande Prairie Panthers Win Gold!
GRANDE PRAIRIE PANTHERS STRIKE GOLD AT WESTERN CANADIANS!!
GAME SCHEDULE: April 11 - Panthers (5) vs HOST (Fleetwoood Hawks)(0)
- Panthers (10)vs YUKON(0)
April 12 - Semifinal- Panthers (7) vs SASKATCHEWAN (Elite Mechanical Shooters) (0)
April 13 - GOLD MEDAL GAME - PANTHERS (5) VS MANITOBA CANADIANS (0)
The Panthers played four strong games at the Western Canadian Shield in Surrey, BC. Scoring 27 goals for and allowing no goals against, the Panthers led the drive for gold with a stellar defensive effort. Not only did goaltenders Cathy Garrett and Cortney Murphy close the door but the Panther defensive squad played exceptionally well. The forwards also took their assignments seriously and backchecked diligently.
The first game against the host team Fleetwood Hawks saw the Panthers get out to slow start but affiliate Jodie Funk played an awesome game to help the Panthers to a 5-0 win. The Hawks goaltender was kept busy and played a solid game.
In game two, the Panthers played an fairly new and young team from Yukon. The Panthers kept the Yukon forwards at bay and were able to score goals from every line winning 10-0.
The Semifinal game against Team Saskatchewan was a hard fought one. The Panther defence were solid this game, keeping the Saskatchewan snipers to the boards. The final score was 7-0.
In the Gold Medal Game, the Panthers went in believing they could win the gold. They knew Team Manitoba would be a very competitive team as they had won games on their side of the pool by equal margins that the Panthers had won by. The game was very intense but the Panthers managed to score the first goal. Manitoba had opportunity as one of their forwards had a breakaway but shot it over goaltender, Cathy Garrett and hit the crossbar. Luck was truly on the Panthers side as later on in the second period, Manitoba crashed the net after Garrett let out several rebounds, however she was able to corral the puck inches from the goal line and get a whistle. On the next shift, the Panthers went the length of the ice and scored a second goal. This took a lot of wind out of the Manitoba sails and the Panthers continued to chip away scoring three more goals in the ensuing time left.
This is the first time the Panthers have won the gold medal after attending this tournament for the fourth time. They have two bronze, one silver and now FINALLY one gold.
SENIOR B PROVINCIAL PLAYOFFS (Alberta)
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PEACE RIVER SHARKS WHO WON THE BRONZE MEDAL!!
Peace River defeated Hughendon 2-0 which should have been a higher score except for the excellent goaltending of the Hughendon goalie. In their second game, they settled for a 1-1 tie with the Thorhild Panteras. In their last round robin game, they defeated Duchess 3-2 in an exciting game that saw Peace River score the game winning goal with 16 seconds left in the game.
They ended up tied for first in their pool which ended up coming down to penalty minutes which placed Peace River second. They faced the defending Provincial Champions, Irma Grizzlies in the semifinal. It was a very rough game which saw many injuries including that to captain Wendy Laliberte who sustained a broken leg in that game. With morale fading, the Sharks were defeated 4-0.
In the bronze medal match up, Peace River decided to rally back for their injured comrades and pulled off a convincing victory over the Bow Valley Grizzlies by a score of 7-2
The Wembley Coyotes also attended Provincials but I do not have any game scores to report yet.
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