The Women’s Hockey League will crown their playoff champion this weekend.
After 13 weeks of play, teams are gearing up for this weekend’s playoff finales. The championship game, third place game, consolation final and “Cellar Stars” game will be played on Sunday.
The following is a summary of last week’s playoff action provided courtesy of the WHL’s Lorie Springall:
*** WEEK 13: Week 13 was full of surprises as Palmer Paving upset league champions Country Way, Skip's Kweok earned a win over Crawford's Canines and two veteran defence scored their first career goals.
Juliana Adam of Algoma Insurance and Julie Laroque of Source For Sports, both playing in their third season, scored their first WHL goals in Monday night's playoffs. Adam's shot from the point opened the scoring against Investors Group in the night's first game.
Sheree Wright and Julie Hodkinson also scored for Algoma but it wasn't enough as they dropped a 6-3 decision to Investors. Francine "Flash" Floreani led the way for Investors with two goals and two assists.
Shelli Ubriaco scored twice while Sarah Fischer and Ellen MacDougall each scored once. MacDougall also had one assist along with Cathy Toni. Captain Patti Lutz had two assists. Pitching in with assists for Algoma Insurance were Laurie Laudadio, Pam Linklater and Donna May Sayers-Lariviere.
In the second game of the night, Skip's Kweok fell behind 3-0 to Crawford's Canines but responded with five straight goals for a 5-3 victory.
The Canines came out flying as Christine Robertson, Elaine Angelic and Heidi Frech scored to give them an early 3-0 lead. However, Skip's snapped out of their slumber to tie things up at three heading into the third period.
Joanne "Jersey" Pine's natural hat trick included the tying, winning and insurance markers for the Kweok. Pine also had one assist in the game. Joy Agawa and Trish Irvine also scored for Skip's. Other assists went to Jo-Anne Jones, Natalie Barry, Kyla Sewell and Rosalea Boissoneau. Chrissy Wade had two helpers for Crawford's Canines.
In one playoff championship semi-final, Palmer Paving upset first place Country Way with a stunning 2-1 victory. Lisa Case scored the winner on a breakaway with 3:54 remaining to send the Paving Crew to next week's championship game.
Country Way jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on an unassisted goal by Christine Trivers. The Granolas held on until midway through the second period when Palmer's Debbie Desgagne evened things up on a set up from Lori "Big Bird" Bonnell.
The teams battled for the next period and a half but Country Way's Lisa Venier and Palmer Paving's Carolyn Tomchuk were both solid in goal. Country Way's apparent tying goal with 1:30 remaining was waved off.
Krysten DiTommaso ripped a beauty slapshot past Tomchuk to the top corner. Unfortunately slapshots are not allowed in the WHL. DiTommaso watched the rest of the game from the penalty box as Country Way dropped their first game in fourteen starts.
In the other semi-final, Source For Sports earned a chance at the playoff championship with a 5-0 win over Lafarge. In true team fashion, ten different players were involved in the scoring.
Veteran Vern Sewell had a career game with two goals and one assist. Other goals came from Leah-Anne Pine, Heather Coutu and Julie Laroque. Karen Gartshore had two assists, while Penny Souliere, Stephanie Bean, Mona Jones, Lois Pine and Trish Secondi pitched in with one assist each. Laurie Terris had the shut out, her second of the season.
The WHL wraps up its season this Sunday, April 4th at McMeeken Arena. The "Cellar Stars" game will feature Algoma Insurance and Crawford's Canines at 4pm.
Battling it out for 3rd/4th place will be Country Way and Lafarge at 5pm. Investors Group and Skip's Kweok will meet in the playoff's Consolation Championship at 6pm.
This season's final WHL game will see Palmer Paving take on Source For Sports for the Playoff Championship and the Keith McWatters Memorial Cup at 7pm.
Habitat For Humanity will be on hand to accept donations in a "silver collection" for their charity.