Women's Hockey League report

It was an exciting finish to the regular season as teams settled into their final positions in league standings.

Congratulations to Sports Gold who captured the regular season league championship by finishing first overall.

The "Pretty In Pink" squad will be presented with the Bud Parsons Memorial Trophy at the league's year-end party March 26 at the Cellar Tap immediately following the finals. Sports Gold won their final game to edge out BDO Dunwoody for the top spot.

At the other end of the standings, Ontario Concrete and Country Way both won games in the final weekend putting an end to the battle of the basement. Country Way captured the "cellar dweller" title this year finishing just one point behind Ontario Concrete.

Algoma Insurance will face off against Lafarge next Sunday in one of the 'B' division semi-finals. Algoma finished fifth while Lafarge finished eighth. In the other 'B' semi, sixth place Crawford's Canines will take on seventh place White Oak Paint. All four teams finished the season within five points of each other.

In the 'A' semi-finals, Sports Gold will play Skip's Kweok and BDO Dunwoody will meet up with Source for Sports. The complete playoff schedule is included at the end of the game report.

*** GAME RESULTS: Ontario Concrete – 2 BDO Dunwoody – 0

In what was perhaps the clearest display of sportsmanship this season, Ontario Concrete lent one of their own players to BDO Dunwoody, giving both teams ten skaters and the opportunity for all invited pick up players to play the game. The move makes it apparent that there is some truth to the "good karma" philosophy as Ontario Concrete went on to upset BDO 2-0. Joey "the goalie" Montgomery picked up her second shut out of the season as her team spoiled BDO's chances of keeping ahead of Sports Gold atop the league standings. The Concrete Crew struck early, scoring just three minutes into the game. Pick up player Andrea Jarzombek pounced on a rebound after a wild scramble in front of the net. Maddy Kasubek and pick up player, Sarah Fischer each had an assist on the play. Ontario Concrete's second goal was an instant replay of the first as BDO goalie, Cat Schryer, made three outstanding saves in a row, only to have pick up player, Kellie Carter beat her on the fourth attempt. Christine Trivers and Kathy Berdux had the assists. The win kept Ontario Concrete out of last place ahead of Country Way. More importantly, Ontario Concrete's unselfish move at the beginning of the game gave BDO an honest chance to determine their own destiny.

Algoma Insurance – 6 White Oak Paint – 1

Everything bounced Algoma's way during a 6-1 win over White Oak Paint. Deb Johnston put on a shooting clinic, scoring four times and setting up another for Algoma. Nancy Houle and Theresa Glover each had one goal. Houle added two assists with singles from Doreen Shaw and Michelle Carter. White Oak had equal chances around the Algoma net but had absolutely no luck finishing. Pick up player, Shelli Ubriaco finally spoiled Algoma's shut out with 1:40 left in the game. Lisa Case and Karen Bell had the assists.

Sports Gold – 2 Lafarge – 1

All they needed was a win to seal first place, but with top guns Brianne Greco, Kathy Pinkse, Trish Buller and Tracey Maitland out of the line up, the task looked a bit daunting for Sports Gold as they faced a fired-up Lafarge team. After two scoreless periods featuring a goaltending dual between Lafarge's Nancy Dewling and Sports Gold's Teri Bonnell, it was Ellen Ford's turn to shine as she put Sports Gold up 1-0 with her first goal of the year. Andrea Jarzombek and Jean Feagan assisted on the play. Just three minutes later, Lafarge's Patti Storozuk scored a beauty, fighting off a couple defenders and firing a low shot past Teri Bonnell. The goal capped off a spectacular play started by Dewling at the other end of the rink with a breakaway save against Katie Healey. Storozuk gobbled up the loose puck, completed an end-to-end rush, giving Dewling an assist on the tying goal. With 4:15 remaining Sports Gold's Penny Souliere scored her biggest goal of the season, burying a pretty pass from Lori Swan for the game winner and the championship title.

Country Way – 4 Algoma Insurance – 2

Country Way finished off their season with a convincing 4-2 win over Algoma Insurance. With only two spares on the bench, Country Way played with the grit and determination of a team of twenty. Brilliant goaltending from Sherri Collins and an aggressive forecheck left Algoma in their dust. The always pesky Sherry "Boom Boom" Boston had the hot hands for Country Way, scoring two highlight goals, including the winner. With the game knotted at 2 apiece, Boom Boom used a bank shot off the goalie to score the winning goal with 2:58 left to play. Patti Lutz scored an empty-netter to seal the deal. Heidi Frech had a goal and an assist while single helpers came from Trish Evans, Christina Nogalo and Debbie Gallagher. Debbie "Digger" Desgagne and Deb Johnston scored for Algoma. Rhonda Miskiw, Theresa Glover, Doreen Shaw and Tanya Thompson had one assist each. Crawford's Canines – 7 Ontario Concrete – 3

Laurie Masters, Suzanne Dunn and Robyn Bourck each scored twice and Lisa Rowlinson once to defeat Ontario Concrete 7-3. Jane Crawford picked up the win in goal for the Canines. Bourck and Rowlinson also added two assists. Dunn, Heather Coutu, Tammy Vince and Vicky Irving each earned one assist. Denise "Deeter" Goldade had a goal and an assist for Ontario Concrete. Geri Miller and Christine Trivers also scored for the Concrete. Maddy Kasubek and Shannon McLeod pitched in with two assists each while Kristy Kernaghen added one assist.

Skip's Kweok – 2 BDO Dunwoody – 1

As expected, the final game of the regular season was a squeaker between Skip's and BDO. Defence and goaltending were the focus for almost two full periods as neither team surrendered any chances. Sue Sherrard finally snapped the scoreless tie with 1:32 left in the second period when Joanne Theissen fed her a nifty pass from behind the net. BDO's Jen Blahey tied things up midway through the third on a glorious end-to-end rush that finished with a high wrist shot over the shoulder of pick up goalie, Teri Bonnell. Skip's Leah-Anne Pine answered just a minute later to take back the one goal lead. Try as they might, BDO was unable to get the equalizer. Pine, Sherrard and pick up, Brianne Greco, each had one assist for Skip's.

*** PLAYOFFS:

@ McMeeken Arena

B - Mar 19 - 4pm - Algoma Insurance (5th) vs. Lafarge (8th) B - Mar 19 - 5pm - Crawford's Canines (6th) vs. White Oak Paint (7th) A - Mar 19 - 6pm - Sports Gold (1st) vs. Skip's Kweok (4th) A - Mar 19 - 7pm - BDO Dunwoody (2nd) vs. Source for Sports (3rd)

Final B - Mar 26 - 4pm - Winners of B Semi Finals Final A - Mar 26 - 5pm - Winners of A Semi Finals

*** STANDINGS:

(wins-losses-ties-points)

Sports Gold 16-2-2-34 BDO Dunwoody 15-4-1-31 Source for Sports 13-5-2-28 Skip's Kweok 14-6-0-28 Algoma Insurance 9-10-1-19 Crawford's Canines 8-10-2-18 White Oak Paint 6-11-3-15 Lafarge 6-12-2-14 B&J Trucking 6-13-1-13 Ontario Concrete 4-13-3-11 Country Way 4-14-2-10

* Source for Sports awarded third place based on a better +/- record.

***

(Submitted by Lorie Springall)