Shirley passes Parker to become Stars all-time top scorer

Grace Shirley became the Stars all-time leading scorer on Sunday.

    It seemed fitting that Grace Shirley became the successor to capture one of the Saskatoon Stars biggest individual records that was held by a friend and former teammate.

    On Sunday, Shirley picked up three assists to become the Stars all-time leader in career regular season points as they downed the Notre Dame Hounds 7-3 in a Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League game at Merlis Belsher Place. With the three helpers, Shirley, who is the Stars captain, has 93 goals and 68 assists for 161 points in 105 carer regular season games. Her goal total is also a Stars career regular season record.

    She passed Mackenna Parker, who was the Stars captain last season, as the team’s leader in career points. Parker recorded 82 goals and 76 assists for 158 points playing 104 career regular season games for the Stars from 2014 to 2018. She is now a freshman with the Boston University Terriers women’s hockey team in the National Collegiate Athletic Association ranks.

    Shirley and Parker are the third and fourth respective all-time leading scorers in the history of the SFMAAAHL.

    Shirley picked up her record breaking point assisting on the Stars first goal, which was scored by 15-year-old sophomore forward Calli Arnold. The captain proceeded to pick up assists on the Stars third and fourth tallies as they built a 4-0 lead after the first period.

Kaitlin Jockims had three points for the Stars on Sunday.

    The Stars built a 6-1 advantage after the second period and cruised to victory from there.
    Kaitlin Jockims and Alison Olorenshaw each had a pair of goals and an assist for the Stars. Anna Leschyshyn had a goal and two assists for Saskatoon, while Arnold had a pair of goals.

    Claire Nimegeers, Brynn Maclean and Lyndsey Janes replied with singles for the Hounds.

    Arden Kliewer turned away 11 of 12 shots starting and picking up the win in goal for the Stars. Kaitlyn Cadrain turned away five-of-seven shots playing the third period in relief.

    Rayanne Mckenzie turned away 16-of-22 shots starting in goal for the Hounds. She was pulled late in the second period after the Stars sixth goal.

    Kaitlyn Ross turned away 19-of-20 shots playing the rest of the way in relief.

    With the win, the Stars improved their record to 25-1 and were already assured of finishing first in the SFMAAAHL before Sunday’s game. The Hounds fell to 11-11-3 to sit fifth in the SFMAAAHL.

Besides Shirley’s record, Stars 17-year-old centre Joelle Fiala hit a milestone in the win. She picked up an assist on the Stars sixth goal.

    With that helper, Fiala equaled former Stars captain Lauren Zary for the Stars record in career regular season assists at 82.

    Fiala has 45 goals and 82 assists for 127 points in 110 career regular season games with the Stars. Zary recorded 44 goals and 82 assists for 126 points in 103 career regular season games played with the Stars from 2008 to 2012.

    Following her career with the Stars, Zary moved on to play with the Brown University Bears women’s hockey team in the NCAA ranks and the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s hockey team in the U Sports ranks.

Joelle Fiala has equaled the Stars record for career assists.

    Fiala and Zary are the eighth and ninth all-time leading scorers respectively in the history of the SFMAAAHL.

    Leschyshyn is also closing in on both Fiala and Zary for the Stars career assists record. In 113 career regular season games, Leschyshyn has 71 goals and 78 assists for 149 points to sit as the fifth all-time leading scorer in the history of the SFMAAAHL.

    The Stars and Hounds will go at it again twice more. They will face each other this coming Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Duncan McNeill Arena in Wilcox and on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at the Duncan McNeill Arena.

    Saskatoon concludes its regular season with those two contests.

    Following those games, the Hounds conclude their regular season on Feb. 20 by traveling to Regina to take on the Rebels at 8 p.m. at the Co-operators Centre.

Fontaine, Lind deliver Wildcats double OT comeback win

Tobi Fontaine scored for the Wildcats on Sunday.

    A couple of key players came up big to allow the Swift Current Diamond Energy Wildcats to win an overtime thriller on Sunday.

    Hosting the Melville Prairie Fire at the Innovation Credit Union i-Plex, the Wildcats fell behind 1-0 in the first period thanks to a short-handed goal scored by Prairie Fire sophomore 15-year-old forward Jordyn Bear. The tally was Bear’s 10^th goal of the season.

    The Wildcats evened things up at 1-1 with 7:04 remaining in the second period on a goal coming from veteran 17-year-old defender Tobi Fontaine.

    In a three-on-three double overtime period, Wildcats star captain Taylor Lind scored the winner with 72 seconds remaining in the frame.

    Amaya Giraudier stopped 28 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Wildcats. Cheyenne Jamieson turned away 36 shots to take the extra time setback in goal for the Prairie Fire.

    The Wildcats are 9-1 since returning from the Christmas break. Their one loss was a 5-2 setback to the Prairie Fire on Saturday in Swift Current.

    The Wildcats sit fourth in the SFMAAAHL with a 15-10-1 record. The Prairie Fire sit sixth in the SFMAAAHL with a 9-15-2 mark.

    The Wildcats close their regular season hosting the Weyburn Richardson Pioneer Gold Wings in a pair of games at 7:45 p.m. and 12:45 p.m. this coming Saturday and Sunday respectively at the Fairview Arena.

    The Prairie Fire conclude their regular season hosting the Battlefords Sharks in a pair of games at 7 p.m. and 1 p.m. this coming Saturday and Sunday respectively at the Horizon Credit Union Centre.

Five top 10 all-time SFMAAAHL scorers still active

Taylor Lind is the SFMAAAHL’s second all-time leading scorer.

    The Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League has hit a unique moment that might never come again in the history of the circuit.

    As the SFMAAAHL regular season nears an end, five the league’s top 10 all-time leading scorers in regular season play are still active. All five members of that group are slated to graduate from their teams after the current campaign.

    The next time a player will come along to break into the top 10 of the SFMAAAHL’s career points list is uncertain.

    At the moment, Swift Current Diamond Energy Wildcats star captain Taylor Lind is the second all-time leading scorer in the history of the SFMAAAHL. In 81 career regular season games, she has 88 goals and 76 assists for 164 points.

    Lind does have one year of midget eligibility remaining, but she is slated finish high school a year early and will join the Lindenwood University Lions women’s hockey team next season in St. Charles, Missouri, and play in the National Collegiate Athletic Association ranks.

    Saskatoon Stars captain Grace Shirley sits third in SFMAAAHL career scoring. She has 93 goals and 68 assists for 161 points in 105 career regular season games.

    Anna Leschyshyn, who is another Stars forward, sits fifth on the SFMAAAHL’s career scoring list. She has 71 goals and 78 assists for 149 points in 113 career regular season games.

    Joelle Fiala, who is a star centre with the Stars, sits eighth on the SFMAAAHL’s career scoring list. She has 45 goals and 82 assists for 127 points in 110 career regular season games.

    Prince Albert Northern Bears captain Abby Soyko occupies the 10^th spot on the SFMAAAHL’s career scoring list. She has 62 goals and 61 assists for 123 points in 134 career regular season games.

    Olivia Howe is the all-time leading scorer in the history of the SFMAAAHL. Playing for the Notre Dame Hounds from 2008 to 2012, Howe appeared in 106 regular season games piling up 107 goals and 100 assists.

    The Hounds won the Esso Cup as national champions in the 2010-11 campaign with Howe.

    Following her time with the Hounds, Howe played four season with the Clarkson University Golden Knights women’s hockey team and helped them win their first NCAA title in the 2013-14 campaign.

    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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After further review, Soyko gets Bears career points record

Abby Soyko, right, and the Bears celebrate an OT win on Saturday.

    BATTLEFORD, Sask. – Abby Soyko was prepared to wait for another day to capture the Prince Albert Northern Bears career regular season points record.

    On Saturday night, the Bears were locked in a 2-2 tie with an inspired Battlefords Sharks side at the Battleford Arena in a second five-minute overtime period in Battleford. The visiting Bears were awarded a power-play opportunity in that frame.

    Working with an extra skater, Soyko blasted a shot on the Sharks net, which was tipped home by linemate Kate Ball to give the Bears a 3-2 victory in the Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League regular season clash.
    Assisting on Ball’s goal would allow Soyko to become the Bears all-time leader in career regular season points.

    Originally, the lone assist on Ball’s tally was given to Bears rookie forward Lauren Willoughby, who wasn’t on the ice and isn’t part of the Bears power-play unit.

Abby Soyko tops the Bears in career regular season points.

    After hearing the goal announcement over the public address system, Soyko skated to the on ice officials and meekly told them she was the one that took the shot that Ball deflected into the Sharks goal for the overtime winner.

    The Bears captain wasn’t too sure how the officials were receiving what she said. Knowing the night had been a long one with the game going into a second overtime period and a lengthy delay due to an injury to Sharks defender Keera Tiringer, Soyko decided to not press too hard on getting an assist on Ball’s overtime winner.

    At game’s end, Soyko was aware the online scoresheet had Willoughby assisting on Ball’s extra time goal and was genuinely alright with that development. Showing no disappointment during a post-game interview, Soyko said the off-ice volunteers that keep track of the scoresheets and the on-ice officials work hard trying to ensure they get everything right.

    She didn’t want to be “that” person that got on their case for making a mistake, because mistakes happen as everyone is human.

    “I know that happens a lot and people get super upset,” said Soyko. “I can just get it back (in Sunday’s) game or whatever and just move on.”

Kate Ball scored the overtime winner for the Bears on Saturday.

    The Bears and Sharks are slated to go at it again on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at the Battleford Arena, but as it turns out, Soyko won’t have to wait to play in that contest to capture the Bears all-time career regular season points record.

    After the Prince Albert side left the rink late Saturday night, it appeared the on-ice officials did hear what Soyko told them after the contest. A change was made on the scoresheet and Soyko was correctly given the lone assist on Ball’s overtime winner.

    With that assist, Soyko, who will turn 17-years-old near the end of this month, became the Bears all-time leader in career regular season points at 102. She piled up those points on 53 goals and 49 assists in 111 career regular season games.

Haylie Biever made 50 saves on Saturday for the Sharks.

    Soyko passed the old mark of 101 points held by Kelly Regnier. Regnier, who is from St. Louis, Sask., recorded her 101 points on 50 goals and 51 assists playing 83 career regular season games between 2010 and 2013.

    Actually, Soyko drove home the Bears first goal of the contest on Saturday at the 3:42 mark of the third period from the front of the Sharks net. That tally was awarded to Bears defender Tobi Fontaine, who was on the ice positioned beside the right boards in the Battlefords zone.

    Soyko said she didn’t hear that goal announcement and wasn’t aware the tally was given to Fontaine until the end of the contest. The SFMAAAHL doesn’t review video to correct goals and assists, and it is up to the players on the ice to make the officials aware that a mistake might have been made.

    The Bears were down 2-0 at the time their first tally went into the Sharks goal to cut Battlefords’ lead to 2-1, and Soyko was focused on trying to spark a comeback.

Miranda Heidt, right, fired home the equalizer for the Bears.

    “It is alright,” said Soyko, who stands 5-foot-5. “A win is a win. It doesn’t matter who puts the puck in the net.”

    Soyko said she believe her team came into Saturday’s game thinking that success was just going to happen due to the fact the Sharks have struggled in recent years in the SFMAAAHL. She was more concerned about that development.

    Saturday’s clash happened to be the regular season opener for the Sharks, and they transition up the ice quickly and played a sound team game. The hosts jumped ahead 2-0 on a first period single from Brooklyn Rowley and a second period single from Madison Sansom.

Nicole Girolami controls the puck in the defensive zone for the Sharks.

    “We just came into the game thinking we were just going to walk all over them, and that is never a good mindset to go into a game,” said Soyko, who is in her fifth and final season with the Bears. “There are still 20 other girls on the other team that want to do the same as you, and that is to win a hockey game.

    “(On Sunday), we just need to come and compete better than them. They definitely improved from last year, and that is good for them. We need to just be better and play to our level.”

    After the Bears cut the Sharks lead to 2-1, it seemed like the rally was going to stall. With 12:09 to play in the third period, Bears winger Jasper Desmarais drove Tiringer into the boards with a hard hit.

    Tiringer was down on the ice for a lengthy stretch before being taken to hospital on a stretcher. Her injury was bad enough that the officials sent the two teams to their respective dressing rooms until she was taken off the ice.

Paris Oleksyn (#11) breaks into the offensive zone for the Bears.

    Tiringer’s status wasn’t known by game’s end.

    Desmarais was accessed a major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct. The play will likely be reviewed by the SFMAAAHL for a possible suspension.

    The Bears killed off the major penalty. With 6:17 to play in the third period, Bears 17-year-old forward Miranda Heidt drove home the equalizer to the top left corner of the Sharks goal to tie things up at 2-2 and ultimately force overtime.

    After a scoreless five minute overtime period of four-on-four play, Ball got her power-play winner on a second five-minute overtime period with three-on-three play.

Sharks D Keera Tiringer left Saturday’s game due to injury.

    Lexi Beuker made 27 stops to pick up the win in goal for the Bears, who improved to 3-0. Haylie Biever was spectacular in the Sharks goal turning away 50 shots.

    “It was kind of a different game obviously with the 2-0 lead that they had and our slow comeback,” said Bears head coach Jeff Willoughby. “I thought we got better as the game went on.

    “Obviously with the injury and everyone was off the ice for about 20 minutes, it was a little different feel for the game.”

    Willoughby said Desmarais was very distraught over the fact Tiringer left the game on a stretcher.

    “I know our player was upset that was involved with the collision,” said Willoughby. “She doesn’t feel good about it either.

    “I hope (Keera) Tiringer is OK and has a good recovery.”

    Willoughby was pleased with Soyko’s play on Saturday.

    “We expect Abby (Soyko) to lead this team,” said Willoughby. “She sets a good example just walking around.

Abby Soyko (#19) has 102 career regular season points for the Bears.

    “Just in the room, she is a good example. She has been here for five years. She knows how to get things done.

    “She has playoff experience. She has played in a lot of tough games, lots of tough situations even as a young player. She is just a leader on and off the ice for us, so it has been excellent.”

    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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