Busy week for Yellowhead Chiefs

Details

Published on Thursday, October 20, 2016

By Eoin Devereux

Neepawa Banner/Neepawa Press

The Yellowhead Midget Chiefs first road trip of the regular season was a mixed bag of results, as the team went 1-1-1 during a three game in three night weekend. The club’s first two games were in Kenora, as the Chiefs challenged the Thistles on Friday, Oct. 14 and Saturday, Oct. 15. The first night was a successful one for Yellowhead, as they secured the 7-4 win. Ryan Heino of Minnedosa earned four points (two goals - two assists), while St. Lazare’s Eric Lemoine added four assists in the victory. Reese Jones picked up the win, stopping 24 of the 28 shots he faced.

The following night, these two teams would met yet again. This time it would end in a 3-3 tie. For this game, it would be Vista’s Mackenzie Belinski who came through for the Chiefs, scoring two of the clubs three goals. Jaxon Heeny of Forrest secured the other. Jeremy Dutcawich got the start in net, making 21 saves. 

By Sunday, Oct. 16, perhaps the fatigue of a five hour drive to Kenora, along with a pair of physical contests in a 24 hour period and another two hour trip to Beausejour all finally caught up with the team, as they were toppled by the Eastman Selects 3-1. Waywayseecappo’s Brian Mentuck scored the only goal of the game for Yellowhead. 

After that gruelling weekend, Yellowhead remains near the top of the standings with a 5-1-1 record. They are a single point back of the Winnipeg Thrashers for second place, and two points behind the unbeaten Winnipeg Wild. The Yellowhead Chiefs return to action Oct. 22 and 23 as part of the annual league showcase in Portage la Prairie. Their first game will take place Saturday at 7:30 pm against Eastman. The next day, they’ll be challenged by the Norman Northstars. Start time for that showdown will be at 11:00 am.

Submitted photo. The Yellowhead Chiefs dropped a pair of games last weekend in Winnipeg.

Submitted

Neepawa Banner

The Yellowhead AAA Female Midget Chiefs rolled into Winnipeg last weekend, sporting an undefeated league record and looking for two more wins. The Winnipeg Avros, though, were waiting and gave the Chiefs a pair of tough games and unfortunately, a pair of losses.

Game one on Saturday, Oct. 15, saw the Chiefs using their team speed to force the play into the Avros’ end.  An early unfortunate bounce gave Winnipeg a chance that they converted to take a 1-0 lead just minutes into the game. The Chiefs continued to press and were rewarded when a hard forecheck by Morgan Ramsay and McKiya Mazur turned a puck over at the blueline and gave Karli Frederick a free shot on goal. She followed the puck to the net and picked up her own rebound, depositing the puck into the Avros goal.  The Chiefs killed off a 5-on-3 power-play right after the goal and the game was tied at 1-1 after the first period of play.   The teams played a fairly even second period.  The Chiefs killed off another 5-on-3 advantage and when given their own power-play opportunities, they were unable to score.  At the beginning of the third period, the Chiefs were again down two players on a 5-on-3 power-play and this time, they were unable to hold the Avros down as a backdoor play was buried behind Tori Eilers in goal.  Yellowhead would be down two players as the period continued, with Morgan Ramsay out due to a penalty and Rylee Gluska lost to an injury.  The Chiefs were unable to generate any offence and could not tie the game, dropping a 2-1 decision.

On Sunday afternoon, the teams would tangle again. The Chiefs bolstered their manpower with affiliate player Kenzer Amy joining the team for the game and Rayna Bonchuk moved up to forward to patrol the right wing.  The Avros and the Chiefs played a tight physical first period, with the referee again giving the home team a 5-on-3 power play that quickly became a 4 on 3 as the Avros were handed a penalty as well.  In the second period, the Chiefs outshot the Avros and with more penalties on the menu, would take the lead with a shorthanded goal.  Sydnee DeCorby rushed the puck out of the Chiefs zone and fired a quick wrist shot at the Avros goal. The rebound lay there and was cleaned up by a hard charging McKiya Mazur who lifted a back hand shot over the goalie.  Just before the goal, the Chiefs had killed off most of yet another 5-on-3 power-play for the Avros.  The Chiefs were up 1-0 in the third and were playing a solid defensive game until a passing miscue gave the Avros a breakaway and resulted in a tie game.    The Avros struck again, just 26 seconds later as the Chiefs struggled at the face off dot all weekend and a lost draw ended up with a chance in alone on goaltender Miranda Cook.  The quick turn of events seemed to deflate the Chiefs and despite some chances, they would surrender another late goal and an empty net goal to make the final 4-1 for the host team.

By Eoin Devereux

Neepawa Banner/Neepawa Press

Elkhorn’s Bray Rookes and Jake Poole of McAuley, each lit the lamp for Yellowhead on Saturday, Oct. 15, in the Bantam Chiefs 2-0 win over Pembina Valley. Nathan Fallon picked up his second win, as well as his second shutout of the season for the Chiefs. With the win, Yellowhead improved to 3-2 on the Winnipeg AAA Hockey League season. The Bantam Chiefs will return to the ice for a pair of games, this weekend against the Winnipeg Sharks.