CAPS WIN LAST GAME IN MINNESOTA
The Caps finished their trip to St. Paul Minnesota for the 2011 Thoroughbreds Tournament with a 2-0 win over MFMHL league rival Yellowhead Chiefs. The Caps continued to play very solid hockey and for the 3rd game of 4 during their trip south outplayed their opponents however this time came away with a win compared to a tie and tough 1 goal loss.
The Caps controlled the tempo from the opening whistle as they outshot the Chiefs 28 to 8 for the game and 22 to 4 over the final 2 periods. However the Caps did not get on the scoreboard until the 6:40 mark of the 2nd period when Captain Callan Harland scored her 7th goal of season when she snapped a rebound past the Chiefs goalie, Courtlyn Oswald and Megan Tully picked up assists on the play. The teams went into the 2nd intermission with the Caps leading 1-0.
Although the Caps continued to apply pressure and create scoring chances off their forecheck the score remained at 1-0 until Alyson Vercaigne scored when she let a one-timer go off a clearing attempt by the Chiefs that found the top corner over the shoulder of Yellowhead netminder.
Veteran Jacey Schettler picked up the shutout and although not busy made several key saves especially in the 1st period when the Chiefs recorded 3 or 4 of their shots on a powerplay and the score still scoreless. This allowed the Caps to maintain the momentum they had been building when the teams played 5 on 5.
The Caps coaching staff was extremely pleased with the effort and caliber of the team's play all weekend against very highend teams. The Team could have easily won 3 of their 4 games and the 1-2-1 result was a significant improvement compared to their first trip to the Thoroughbred Event last year when they did not win a game. The Caps coaching staff was approached by several NCAA Universities about their graduating players Callan Haralnd, Maggie Girard, Alyson Vercaigne and Kelsey Desilets. All 4 players had solid weekends and led to the young Caps throughout the weekend.
The Caps now play 2 games in MacGregor vs. the St. Mary's Flames Prep team.
The Games are scheduled for Saturday Dec. 3 and Sunday Dec. 4.
Game Time both days is set for 2:00 p.m.
CAPS LOSE 3-2 TO TOP TEAM IN ALBERTA
The Caps outplayed the best team in the Alberta AAA League for 2 peiords but could not come away from the game with a win. The Caps dominated most of the 1st period vs. the Medicine Hat Hounds limiting them to 3 shots in the period while firing 9 at the Hounds net but still ended the period with a 0-0 tie. The 2nd period saw the Caps come out strong again but where there were 2 penalties called against either team in the 1st period the Caps were now forced to kill 4 penalties to the Hounds none including a 5 on 3 leading to 2 Hounds power play goals. The Hounds scored 1st in the 2nd period but the Caps responded on a nice breakaway goal by Alyson Vercaigne who went in and buried a great snapshot under the bar to even the score 1-1 five minutes into the period. From here the Caps lost momentum when 2 or 3 questionable calls led to Hounds' power plays killing the momentum the Caps had again established. The 2nd period intermission saw the Caps trailing 3-1.
The 3rd period saw the Caps come out with determination and speed completely controlling the game with Medicine Hat not getting a shot on net until after the 6 minute mark. The Caps strong forecheck and speed led to Meike Meilleur scoring on a redirected puck with Courtney Hay picking up the lone assist. The Caps continued to control the period and 5 on 5 were definitely the better team however even witrh the goalie pulled could not even the score. The Caps had numerous scoring chances in the 3rd period and limited the Hounds to 4 shots on goal.
The Young Caps battled hard and the coaching staff was pleased with their effort, they continue to stress to the team that they need to utilize their speed throughout the game and work to get more pucks to the net and look for rebounds.
Alyson Vercaigne scored a goal vs. Medicine Hat for her 4th of the year.
CAPS LOSE TO HOST THOROUGHBREDS IN ST. PAUL
The Caps came out on the wrong end of a 3-0 score to the host U19 Thoroughbreds in St. Paul Minnesota. The Caps had a hard time handling the size and strength of the older Thoroughbred players who can stay in the program for 2 years after finishing High School.
Veteran Jacey Schettler was solid in net for the Caps stopping 27 0f 30 shots fired her way and kept the Caps in the game for over to 2-1/2 periods. The intermission scores were 0-0 and 1-0 until the Thoroughbreds scored 2 goals in the last 8 minutes of the 3rd period which might have been the Caps best period of the game as they created several very good scoring chances.
A big point in the game came when it appeared the Caps had scored in the 3rd perioid to make the score 2-1 but the Referee would not allow the goal even though he admitted to not blowing the whistle on a breakaway where the Minnesota goaltender carried the puck across the line.
The Caps coaching staff has been very happy with the players effort so far in this elite tournament that has shown if the young Caps play to their capabilities they will be in any game against this level of competition.
Schettler-solid in net Megan Tully-force on D
CAPS TIE NOTRE DANE IN OPENING GAME
AT THOROUGHBRED TOURNAMENT IN ST. PAUL MINNESOTA
The Caps started the 2011 Minnesota Thoroughbred Tournament with a 3-3 tie in their game vs. the defending Hockey Canada Esso Cup Midget National Champions Notre Dame Hounds. The Caps came back from 3 - 1 goal deficits on goals by Maggie Girard, Kelsey Desilets and Courtly Oswald, Callan Harland picked up the lone helper on Girard's goal with the other 2 Caps' goals being unassisted.
The game saw the Hounds jump into a 1-0 1st period lead which stood up until Girard made it 1-1 on a nice backhand with 11 minutes to go in the 3rd period. The game which saw the 2 teams exchange only 2 goals for close to 50 minutes in a defensive battle now became a shootout when the teams scored 4 times in the next 7 minutes. The Hounds took leads of 2-1 and 3-2 only to have the Caps come back on unassisted markers by Kelsey Desilets and Courtly Oswald. Desilets goal was on a breakaway when she stole the puck from a defender at the Hounds' blueline and walked in to beat the netminder with a nice backhand deke. Oswald's goal came off a Caps' powerplay on a scrambled play that saw her bank the puck in off the netminder from a bad angle.
Elisha Oswald earned the tie in net for the Caps and was solid especially in the 2nd period when the Hounds had 2 powerplays that led to them having 11 of their 22 shots in that period.
This was the first meeting ever between these 2 Midget AAA Programs, the Caps now play the host Thoroughbreds and the Medicine Hat Hounds from the Alberta AAA league on Saturday to complete Pool Play.
