Courtesy StFX sports information

ANTIGONISH, N.S. (CIS) – The No. 2 seeded Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks are the 2010 CIS bronze medalists after a 4-0 shut out over the No. 4 Saint Mary’s Huskies Sunday afternoon at the StFX Keating Centre. The bronze is the first in this color for the Golden Hawks who are also one-time champions (2005) and four-time silver medalists.

Championship website (including complete stats):
 http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/wice

Video

Devon Skeats (Whitby, ON) scored two goals in the win, tallying five total in the tournament as the Golden Hawks out shot the Huskies 44-9 en route to the win. Skeats scored 14:40 into the first period and teammate Caitlin Muirhead (Waterloo, ON) increased the lead to 2-0 before the first period ended.

OUA Rookie of the Year Candice Styles (Orangeville, ON) scored the Golden Hawks third goal in the second period, and Skeats followed up with her second of the game, scoring shorthanded, 8:33 into the third.

“I’m pretty happy right now,” commented Skeats after the game. “It’s not a full emotion I would have if it were gold, but it’s the best we could do, I’m happy with my team. We played the best we have all week here in this game.”

Jillian MacIsaac (Timberlea, NS) played an outstanding game in the Saint Mary’s net, registering 40 saves and earning Player of the Game honors. Skeats took home the Player of the Game award for the Golden Hawks.

Laurier opened up the game with an early power play opportunity less then two minutes in and Skeats had a good scoring chance on the man advantage. She attempted to redirect a Fiona Lester (Peterborough, ON) pass but could not find the back of the mesh.

The teams exchanged penalties and power play chances in the period with some 4-on-4 action, but neither could capitalize on the man advantage.

Saint Mary’s had their best chance of the period when Melissa Young (Halifax) set up Jenna Currie (Berwick, NS) in front of the net but she fanned on the shot. Golden Hawks captain Andrea Ironside (Collingwood, ON) then took the pass up ice on the ensuing play but failed to convert on a 2-on-1 attempt.

The two teams were held scoreless through the majority of first period of play until Skeats’ goal at 14:40. With her teammates pressuring in front of the net for several minutes, Skeats was able to take advantage and get the Golden Hawks on the board. After beating a Saint Mary’s player at the blue line, she took on defender Jocelyn Campbell (Moose Jaw, SK) and beat both her and MacIsaac as she fired a slap shot between the legs of the Huskies netminder on an unassisted goal.

The Golden Hawks second goal came with just 35 second left in the opening period as Maureen Mommersteeg (St. Thomas, ON) took a shot from the point, then off the MacIsaac save Abby Rainsberry (Petrolia, ON) got the puck over to Muirhead who shoveled it under MacIsaac.

The OUA champion Golden Hawks closed out the first period with a 2-0 lead and a dominating 12-1 shot advantage.

The second period of the game was a penalty-plagued one, as five minor infractions were assessed to Laurier and four to Saint Mary’s.

Neither team had any major scoring chances the first seven minutes into the period. Some pushing and shoving in front of the Saint Mary’s net resulted in six minutes of penalties with the Huskies coming out with a power play advantage. A second Laurier penalty gave the Huskies a 5-on-3 chance which was quickly negated by a Saint Mary’s body contact call. Saint Mary’s struggled on the power play throughout the first two periods.

At the 12:53 mark of the period the Golden Hawks were awarded a penalty shot. As they brought the puck into the Huskies zone on the offensive, forward Carla Little (Truro, NS) covered the puck with her glove while in the goal crease area and the referee awarded Kalyer Powers (Kingston, ON) with a penalty shot. She attempted a high, glove side shot but fired high and wide of the net.

Laurier’s third goal of the game came with 5:23 left in the period. After a Saint Mary’s center ice turnover, Styles broke through the Huskies defenders through the slot area and beat MacIsaac low, tucking it around her pads. Ironside picked up an assist on the play.

The Golden Hawks continued to out shoot the Huskies, recording 12 shots to the Huskies 5 in the second period and holding a 24-6 advantage after 40 minutes.

Wilfrid Laurier carried their momentum into the third period as Ironside was close to scoring a power play goal while on a 5-on-3 advantage five minutes into the final frame. Her shot from the point found its way in front of a busy Huskies net, but MacIsaac was able to hold onto it for a whistle.

The Huskies played undisciplined hockey in the third period, being called for 12 minutes in penalties, however Laurier was unable to capitalize on any of their man-advantages in the period or in the game, as they were 0-10 overall. 

Skeats’ second goal came while Laurier was short handed at the 8:33 minute mark.  Ironside pulled the Huskies defender towards her then made a nice pass to Skeats, who was in all alone. It was Ironside’s second helper of the game. 

The Golden Hawks continued to pressure for the remainder of the game and had a two-man advantage with minutes to play. After peppering shots on the Saint Mary’s net, MacIsaac held strong between the pipes and made the saves. Her teammates were unable to provide any scoring support, however and close the game being out shot 44-9 by the Golden Hawks.

The Huskies closeout the tournament with a 1-2 record and settle for fourth place overall, while the 2-1 Golden Hawks win the bronze medal. 

SCORING SUMMARY 

Wilfrid Laurier 4, Saint Mary’s 0

FIRST PERIOD

SCORING:
1. WLU Devon Skeats (1) (unassisted), 14:40.
2. WLU Caitlaine Muirhead (1) (Abby Rainsberry, Maureen Mommersteeg), 19:25.

PENALTIES:
Jocelyn Campbell (SMU) hooking, 1:26; Andrea Ironside (WLU) slashing, 2:48; Seyara Shwetz (SMU) hooking, 5:17; Andrea Ironside (WLU) body checking, 5:58; Jocelyn Campbell (SMU) hooking, 8:14; Carla Little (SMU) tripping, 19:43.    

SECOND PERIOD

SCORING:
3. WLU Candice Styles (1) (Andrea Ironside), 14:37.

PENALTIES:
Kyla Thurston (SMU) roughing, 7:22; Katherine Shirriff (WLU) roughing, 7:22;
Katherine Sherriff (WLU) unsportsmanlike conduct, 7:22; Laura Bartolini (WLU)
hooking, 7:56; Rebecca Mosher (SMU) body contact, 8:48; Alicia Martin (WLU)
interference, 10:53; Jenna Currie (SMU) body contact, 16:36; Abby Rainsberry (WLU)
tripping, 18:49. 

THIRD PERIOD

SCORING:
4. Devon Skeats (2) (Ironside), 8:33.

PENALTIES:
Brittany Crago (WLU) roughing, 2:40; Kyla Thurston (SMU) goaltender interference, 3:56; Jenna Currie (SMU) tripping, 4:08; Laura Bartolini (WLU) tripping, 7:38; Jenna Currie (SMU) checking, 8:46; Kaitlyn Abbass (SMU) roughing, 13:35; Lauren McCusker (SMU) hooking, 16:58; Jenna Currie (SMU) roughing, 18:03; Andrea Ironside (WLU) slashing, 19:00.

GOALS (by period)
SMU: 0-0-0: 0
WLU: 2-1-1: 4

SHOTS ON GOAL (by period)
SMU: 1-5-3: 9
WLU: 12-12-20: 44

POWER PLAY:
SMU: 0-7
WLU: 0-10

GOALTENDERS
SMU: Jillian MacIsaac (L, 1-2, 44 shots, 40 saves, 59:51)
WLU: Liz Knox (W, 2-1, 9 shots, 9 saves, 60:00)

BLACKBERRY PLAYERS OF THE GAME:
SMU: Jillian MacIsaac
WLU: Devon Skeats

REFEREE: Katie Gullett

LINESMEN: Molly Simon, Katie Monahan

ATTENDANCE: 512

SEEDINGS, POOLS, SCHEDULE & RESULTS (All times LOCAL: Atlantic Time)

Pool A
1. McGill
4. Saint Mary’s
6. Montreal

Pool B
2. Wilfrid Laurier
3. Alberta
5. StFX

Thursday, March 11
16:00 Pool A #1: No. 1 McGill 3, No. 6 Montreal 1
19:30 Pool B #1: No. 3 Alberta 1, No. 2 Laurier 0

Friday, March 12
16:00 Pool A #2: No. 4 Saint Mary’s 4, No. 6 Montreal 2
19:30 Pool B #2: No. 2 Laurier 3, No. 5 StFX 2

Saturday, March 13
16:00 Pool A #3: No. 1 McGill 7, No. 4 Saint Mary’s 2
19:30 Pool B #3: No. 5 StFX 0 vs. No. 3 Alberta 2 

Sunday, March 14
11:00 5th Place: No. 6 Montreal 1 vs No. 5 StFX 0
14:00 Bronze: No. 4 Saint Mary’s 0 vs No. 2 Laurier 4
18:00 Final: No. 1 McGill vs No. 3 Alberta (SSN Canada)

- CIS -