Chiefs Win in Double OT - Advance to Semi- Finals
The Chiefs and Eastman Selects played Game 5 of their MFMHL quarter final series on Saturday night at the Communiplex in Shoal Lake before a large and loud crowd of supporters for both teams. The Chiefs continued their strong play from their Game 4 win on Tuesday night and dominated the early part of the game, narrowly missing opening the scoring several times. The Selects continued their hard working play and a deflected puck on a power play in the latter half of the first period gave the visitors a 1 - 0 lead. Despite continued pressure from the Chiefs, the score remained at 1 - 0 into the second period.
Yellohead killed off two penalties early in the second and when they were on the power play at the midway point of the period, several great scoring opportunities finally lead to the tying goal. Lainie Nichols carried the puck into the Eastman zone and got the puck to Morgan Ramsay who's shot was stopped. Karli Frederick was there to pick up the loose puck and slide it home, tying the game at 1. The two teams remained tied as the third period opened, with the Chiefs consistently controlling the play and firing 13 shots in the 3rd on the Selects goal. It appeared that some luck was going to have to fall in the Chiefs favor. With just under 9 minutes to go in the third, Karli Frederick and Cass Lyttle both had shots on goal with the puck in the crease on a scramble, Morgan Ramsay was there to tuck home the biscuit and put the Chiefs up by 1. Yellowhead protected the lead and were working towards securing the win and the series when, in the final minute, a puck popped loose to an Eastman defenceman who fired a hard slap shot through traffic that beat Mirand Cook in the Chiefs goal to tie the game.
The first 10 minute overtime featured scoring chances for both teams, none better then two in close chances for Eastman midway through the period. Miranda Cook was able to get the heel of her skate on the first chance, sending the puck to the corner. A Selects forward recovered and drove the puck to the net and stuffed the puck under Cook, who managed to some how keep the puck out the net. The Chiefs finished the first overtime with sustained pressure but couldn't find that winning goal. The second overtime started with the hosts on the attack again. Rylee Gluska and Sadie Wood combined to get the puck to the net in the second minute of the overtime period and McKiya Mazur drove hard to the net, picking up the loose puck and stuffing it into the net giving the Chiefs the win and the series over Eastman.
The quarter final win sets up another semi-final series with the Westman Wildcats. The Chiefs have eliminated the Wildcats in the last two seasons and will look to make it three in a row. The series starts on Wednesday March 1st in Hartney with Game 2 on Friday March 3rd in Shoal Lake.
Game 1-Wednesday March 1-7:30 Hartney
Game 2 Friday March 3. 730 Shoal Lake
Game 3-Sunday March 5-2:00 Hartney
Game 4 Wednesday March 8th 730 Shoal Lake
Game 5-Saturday March 11-7:30 Hartney
Chiefs Even Series with Decisive Road Win
With their backs squarely against the wall, the Chiefs rode the bus east to Steinbach for game 4 in their quarter final series with the Eastman Selects. After playing very well at times and feeling they had not received many breaks in the series, a pre-game meeting to get everyone on the same page had Yellowhead fired and up and ready to go. The line of Wood-Gluska-Mazur again was a breath of fresh air for the Chiefs in this game. McKiya Mazur opened the scoring for the Chiefs in the first period as the speedy forward fired the puck home, assisted by Sadie Wood and Sydnee DeCorby. The second period was highlighted by 5 straight penalties to the Chiefs including a 5 on 3 penalty kill late in the period. Despite the lopsided penalty count, the Chiefs were again the stronger team, as they scored twice, with Karissa Cullum picking up an unassisted goal and Mazur adding her second on an assist from Rylee Gluska. A high tempo and intense third period from both teams featured the Chiefs scoring twice more, as Jena Barscello buried a wrist shot from the slot, assists going to Karissa Cullum and Tatum Amy. The Gluska line added the 5th goal, with a face off win by Rylee to Mazur who's quick shot was tipped home by Sadie crashing the net.
Miranda Cook was rock solid in picking up the shutout win, stopping all 32 shots directed her way.
Game 5 in the series will be Saturday night at the Communiplex in Shoal Lake at 7:30. Be sure and bring your noisemakers and enjoy a great game.
Chiefs Lose Home Game - Trail Series 2 - 1
The Chiefs returned home after a tough road loss on Friday night but a strong third period had the team ready to go for the pivotal game 3. A strong start from the Chiefs failed to produce a goal and two quick markers from Eastman had the hosts down early in the game. A goaltending switch to change the momentum helped for the Chiefs, although one more late first period goal created a 3 - 0 deficit and long hill too climb to get back in the game. In the second, the Chiefs again controlled much of the play and were able to score twice, the first from the newly created line of Wood - Mazur - Gluska, with Sadie scoring an assist from McKiya and the second assist from Rayna Bonchuk, freshly back from injury herself. Jena Barscello scored an unassisted goal to get the Chiefs to within one as the second period ended. In the third, the home team pushed to tie the score but a bad bounce gave Eastman a 4th goal and another goal increased the lead to 5 - 2. The Chiefs were unable to recover from a very deep hole and lost with the final score of 5 - 2. Trailing in the series, the Chiefs would have to travel to Steinbach on Tueday night for must-win game 4.
Slow Start Cost Chiefs Game 2
A Friday night trip to Steinbach for Game 2 of the MFMHL quarter-final series did not work out to the plan for the Chiefs. Despite several quality scoring chances, the team was not sharp in the first period and struggled to match the energy of the hosts. A wrap around goal in the first put Eastman up 1 - 0 after the opening stanza. The Chiefs started to find their game in the second and continued to pressure the net, but Rayna Kirk in the Selects goal was very good on this night. The physical play of the Selects was for the most part ignored by the referee, allowing them to keep the speedy Chiefs forwards to the outside.
The third was again the Chiefs best period and they had several great scoring chances, but again were unable to find the tying goal. An empty net goal gave the Selects a 2 - 0 win and tied the series at 1.
Game 4 is on Sunday afternoon in Shoal Lake.
CHIEFS Grind out Game 1 Win
The Chiefs opened the playoffs and an opportunity to defend the MFMHL title won last season on home ice on Wednesday night at home. After finishing 4th the Chiefs faced the Eastman Selects in a best of 5 quarter final.
Eastman started the game with a work ethic that the Chiefs struggled to match. Miranda Cook was called on to make several first period saves to keep the game scoreless. The Chiefs started to find their legs and managed to fight through the over abundant hooks and slashes to open then scoring. Captain Tatum Amy hit Karissa Cullum with a perfect pass on a 2 on 1 and the veteran winger buried the chance with a quick shot that beat the goalie on the glove hand. Cullum narrowly missed her second before the end of the period as only a miraculous save on a cross ice pass stopped the goal. The Chiefs struggled at times jn the 2nd and were unable to score. Cook continued to stand tall and held the Selects scoreless. Some adjustment for the 3rd and the Chiefs played a better period to nail down the win. Cook would finish with 22 saves for the shutout victory.
Game 2 of the series is Friday night in Steinbach with game 3 slated for Sunday afternoon in shoal Lake at 430.
