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| Ashley Messier reacts to her winning goal for the Stars. |
Facing the Notre Dame Hounds in a Saskatchewan Female Midget
AAA Hockey League regular season game at Merlis Belsher Place, the Stars
entered the third period locked in a 0-0 tie.
With nine minutes to play in the third period, Messier, who
is skilled offensive defender, took a pass from defensive partner Emily Holmes,
broke down the right wing of the Notre Dame zone and roofed home a rocket shot
past Hounds star netminder Kaitlyn Ross. The 16-year-old’s tally was the only marker of the contest as the Stars held
on for a 1-0 victory.
“I just got the pass
from Emily (Holmes) and went high,” said Messier. “I know that her glove is
really good, so I just tried to stay away from that.”
While Saturday’s encounter
marked the first time the Stars and Hounds met in the regular season, they
faced each other in the final of the Mandi Schwartz Memorial Tournament last
Dec. 9.
As Notre Dame hosted that prestigious event, the Hounds were the host
squad.
 |
| The Stars celebrate Ashley Messier’s winning goal on Saturday. |
The Stars prevailed
in that contest 3-1, and Messier said the way Saturday’s game played out felt
familiar to that tournament championship encounter.
“It was pretty similar
to our one at Mandi,” said Messier. “I would say they are always low scoring
and hard fought games and that was just another one today.”
Ross was outstanding
in the Hounds net turning away 28 shots to take the setback in goal.
Arden Kliewer turned
away all 19 shots she faced picking up her sixth shutout win of the season in
goal for the Stars. She has nine shutouts in her SFMAAAHL career.
 |
| Ashley Messier has 30 points this season for the Stars. |
“(We have to) make
sure we do get the shots through, because they are good at blocking up top as
well,” said Messier. “(We have to) make sure we have people at the net to get
it in, because they are not always going to be really nice goals against a
goalie like this.”
Before Messier scored,
the Stars looked like they were going to break the scoreless tie, while working
on the power play. Stars captain Grace Shirley got the puck at the right side
of the Notre Dame net, and she rang a backhand off the post.
Shortly after
Shirley’s chance with the game still tied at 0-0, the Hounds had a chance to
score during a mad scramble in front of the Stars net, but Notre Dame couldn’t
get the puck into the Saskatoon goal.
 |
| Kaitlyn Ross made 28 saves in goal for the Hounds. |
“I would say that it
is a more physical game, and the refs were letting a lot go, which was fine,”
said Messier. “They (the Hounds) are patient and they trap.
“They do set up a
trap, so it is kind of hard to get around on, but we got there today.”
Individually,
Messier is having her best season. The 16-year-old third-year veteran has
career highs in goals (five), assists (25) and points (30). She stayed modest taking her career highs in stride.
“It is good,” said
Messier. “It is nice to know that you are improving or doing better.
“It is not the most
important thing, but it is nice.”
 |
| Captain Grace Shirley fires a shot on goal for the Stars. |
With the win, the
Stars improved to 24-1. They came into Saturday’s game having already locked up
first place in the SFMAAAHL.
The Hounds saw their
five game winning streak come to an end as they fell to 11-10-3.
The two sides go at
it again on Sunday at 2:15 at Merlis Belsher Place.
Following that game,
the Stars close their regular season by traveling to Wilcox to play the Hound
in two respective games on Feb. 16 and 17.
Messier said playing
the Hounds four straight times will help the Stars gear up for the post-season.
“I’m assuming there
will be a lot more games like this,” said Messier. “It is going to be hard
fought right to the very end, which is going to be good for us going into
playoffs.”
Bears’ Soyko moves to 10th on
SFMAAAHL career scoring list
 |
| Abby Soyko has 123 career regular season points. |
The skilled
17-year-old forward moved alone into 10th place on the Saskatchewan
Female Midget AAA Hockey League’s career regular season scoring list.
Soyko hit the milestone
teaming up with sister Allie Soyko to set up Kate Ball for the Bears first goal
in a 11-0 victory over the Weyburn Richardson Pioneer Gold Wings at Crescent
Point Place in Weyburn.
Abby Sokyo also
picked up a goal for a two-point night in the win. Over five seasons, Soyko has
appeared in 134 regular season games recording 62 goals and 61 assists for 123
career points.
She is two points
clear of Taylor Woods and Emma Waldenberger, who sit tied for 11th
and 12th spot on the all-time regular season scoring list.
Woods appeared in 84
regular season games for the Notre Dame Hounds from 2008 to 2011 recording 55
goals and 66 assists for her 121 points. Waldenberger played 109 regular season
games for the Regina Rebels from 2010 to 2011 posting 60 goals and 61 assists
for her 121 points.
Soyko is the Bears all-time leader in career goals and points.
Soyko is the Bears all-time leader in career goals and points.
 |
| Scout Anderson picked up her first career shutout on Saturday. |
Ball finished with a
pair of goals and an assist. McKenzie Mayo, Paige Dawson and Haley Kicia
rounded out the Bears scoring with singles.
Scout Anderson, who
is a 14-year-old rookie, made 24 saves to earn her first career SFMAAAHL regular
season shutout for the Bears (16-8-2). Daneka Dawson turned away 39 shots to
take the setback in goal for Gold Wings (1-24-1).
The Bears return to
action on Friday, when they host the Regina Rebels at 7 p.m. at the Kinsmen
Arena in Prince Albert.
Weyburn travels to
Swift Current this coming Saturday to face the Diamond Energy Wildcats at 7:45
p.m. at the Fairview Arena.
Prairie Fire upset Wildcats 5-2
 |
| Allison Hayhurst had a goal and an assist for the Prairie Fire. |
On Saturday at the
Innovation Credit Union i-Plex in Swift Current, the Prairie Fire built a 2-0
lead after the first period, a 3-0 advantage after the second period and
expanded their edge to 5-0 in the third. The Wildcats responded with two goals
to make the final 5-2 in Melville’s favour.
Starla Mann scored
twice for the Prairie Fire, while fifth-year veteran defender Allison Hayhurst
had a goal and an assist.
Megan Hayhurst and
Heather Fiske rounded out Melville’s scoring with singles.
Sara Kendall and Kenedee
Klevgaard replied with singles for the Wildcats.
Cheyenne Jamieson
made 28 saves to pick up the win in goal for the Prairie Fire (9-15-1).
Amaya Girauder started
and took the setback in goal for the Wildcats (14-10-1) turning away 15-of-20
shots sent her way. Harper Davey turned away all five shots she faced in relief
entering the contest in the third period after Melville’s fifth goal.
Wildcats star
captain Taylor Lind, who leads the SFMAAAHL scoring race and is the circuit’s
second all-time leading scorer, was held without a point for just the second
time this season.
The Prairie Fire and
Wildcats go at it again on Sunday at 1:15 p.m. at the Fairview Arena in Swift
Current.
If you have any
comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them
to stankssports@gmail.com.
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