CAPS LOSE IN SPRING CLASSIC FINAL
The Caps played a solid hockey game and put out a great effort but it was not enough to defeat the Westman Wildcats in their barn in the final of their tournament. The 2 MFMHL rivals hooked up in the final of the Westman Wildcats Spring Classic and like every game they have played vs. each other this season it was an evenly matched intense affair.
The first period saw the teams battle back and forth with either team being able to get the upper hand over the other settling for a 0-0 draw heading into the first intermission.
The second period saw the Wildcats notch the first goal of the game when the Caps failed to get the puck deep on a rush and Westman turned the opportunity into an odd man rush the other way where they scored on a rebound after Elisha Oswald stopped a tough hard low shot. The teams exchanged chances through the remainder of the period and the Caps displayed strong penalty killing as they were forced to kill off 3 penalties while not getting any power plays themselves. Score at the second intermission was 1-0 for Westman.
The Caps fell behind 2-0 when Westman scored on their 4th power play in a row just 4 minutes into the third period. The game continued to be closely contested with the Caps getting several very good scoring chances in the second half of the second period and into the third. They finally got a power play of their own and converted this into a goal when Chantal Gamache netted a rebound that made the score 2-1 with just over 4 minutes to go in the game. Courtlyn Oswald and Autumn Garnham picked up assists on the goal. With another power play the Caps were pressing for the equalizer when they gave up a rush that led to a short handed goal to push the Westman lead to 3-1. Although the Caps had a couple more scoring chances they could not convert against Kristin Campbell in net for the Wildcats and the game finished with a 3-1 score. Shots on net were 23-22 in favour of the Caps and the game was that even throughout.
The coaching staff was very pleased with the play of the Caps during the weekend and the intensity they maintained throughout the 4 games. They stressed to the players after the final that if they can maintain the effort and level of play they have produced over the last 7-8 games it should lead to positive results in the upcoming MFMHL playoffs.
CAPS FINISH 2-0-1
in Round Robin at Westman Spring Classic
The Caps finished the Round Robin portion of the Westman Wildcats Spring Classic with a solid 8-0 win vs. the Norman Wild. The victory has put the Caps into 1st place in their pool and they now play in the tournament Championship Game at 3:45 pm on Sunday Feb. 17 in Hartney.
The Caps were led by Sheridan Oswald's 5 point outing that included 3 goals. Other goal scorers for the Caps included Megan Tully, Chantal Gamache, Brooke-Lyn Riley, Autumn Garnham and Liz Stewart. The Caps controlled a majority of the game out shooting the Wild 50 to 14 and the coaching staff was pleased with how the team managed the puck, got pucks to the net and created chances by driving the net.
Elisha Oswald picked up the win and shut out in net for the Caps and although not over worked made several keys saves.
The Caps hope to carry the momentum of the last 2 wins into the tournament final and build towards a solid playoff run.
Westman Wildcats Spring Classic - Game #2 - Caps 5 vs. ACC 0
The Caps traveled to Souris for Game #2 of the Westman Wildcats Spring Classic and picked up a solid 5-0 decision over ACC from Brandon. Led by Chantal Gamache's 3 point outing that included 2 goals plus 2 point performances from Courtlyn Oswald (1-1), Sheridan Oswald (1-1), Tamara McVannel (1-1) and Lendra Timmerman (2 Assists) the Caps dominated their older apponents outshooting them 57-10. Also picking up assists were Liz Stewart and Megan Tully while Elisha Oswald picked up the win and shutout in net.
CAPS FIT TO BE TIED
For the second game in a row, the eleventh time this year and the third vs. Yellowhead in their last three meetings the Caps settled for a tie. Although again outshooting and outplaying the Chiefs for a large majority of the game the Caps ended up with a 1-1 decision. Courtlyn Oswald picked up the Caps lone goal when she took a nice breakaway pass from Chantal Gamache and beat the Yellowhead netminder with a shot to the far corner of the goal. Tamara McVannel picked up the second assist when she fed the puck to Gamache in the Chiefs zone along the boards.
Robin Thiessen earned the tie by stopping 17 of 18 shots in the Caps net. Meanwhile the Caps peppered the Chiefs net with 39 shots and outshot their opponents 29-10 over the last two periods.
The Caps gave up the lead in the third period when the Chiefs scored on a power play. The Caps controlled play after this and buzzed the Chiefs net however could not find the back of the net missing several open and glorious scoring chances. The Caps played a solid game however the coaching staff is stressing to the players to get more traffic in front of the net and be quicker to rebounds available.
The Caps next game in the Westman Wildcats Spring Classic is vs. ACC at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday Feb. 16 in Souris before they finish round robin play vs. Norman later in the day at 3:45 p.m. in Hartney.
