CAPS CAPTURE FIRST PLACE

The Caps traveled to Shoal Lake for a re-scheduled MFMHL game vs. the Yellowhead Chiefs which would be the last of the regular season in the MFMHL with first place still up for grabs. With second place secured the Caps were looking at making team and MFMHL history and did both. Two goals by Emily Upgang, a game winner by Chelsea Hallson, a 21 save performance by Kathleen Kosior and a solid performance by the entire team on the road gave the Caps their highest finish in the MFMHL and also meant they were the first team in the history of the league to finish first other than the Pembina Valley Hawks.

As usual the Chiefs would come out hard and press the Caps in the early parts of the period and it would lead to a power play goal when a point shot took a funny bounce and eluded Kosior. That is all Kosior would give up the rest of the game and the Caps would regroup in the second period controlling the play and eventually leveling when Upgang would score on a one timer in the low slot shot after receiving a  perfect back hand pass off the rush from Mekaela Fisher with the second assist going to Sydney Taylor. The teams would head into the second intermission with the score knotted at 1-1.

The Caps had a solid third period with standing some good push back from the Chiefs in an exciting game. Just before the half way point of the third period Chelsea Hallson took a give and go pass from Kelly-Rae Zdan and skated through an open lane at the hash marks to the slot where she beat the Yellowhead netminder with a perfect wrist shot under the bar short side. From here both teams had some good chances with both goalies making some good saves before Upgang sealed the win with an empty net goal with assists going to Tamara McVannel and Fisher.

The Caps coaching staff was extremely pleased with the compete level of the team throughout the contest and the way players responded in the second and third periods with an increase in their execution of what they wanted on the ice. The Caps have now earned a first round bye and will wait to see what happens in the league quarter-finals before knowing who they will meet commencing the week of March 2.