WHKY 2008 CIS Championship at University of Ottawa
Game three: #2 seed Alberta vs. #5 seed Manitoba game recap

The #5 seeded Bisons beat the #2 seeded Alberta Pandas (Canada West Champion) by a score of 4-2 in the bronze medal game during the four-day championship. The game was played at the University of Ottawa Sports Complex in front of enthusiastic fans for both sides.

In their third appearance at a CIS Championship in the 11 year program’s history, the Bisons have now finished with bronze medals in each: 2008, 2007 and 2005 .

This was Manitoba’s second win in seven overall games this season. The two teams met four times this season in regular season and twice in the playoffs prior to the bronze medal game. In the 2007-08 regular season, the Bisons went 1-3 versus the Pandas. At home, the Bisons split with a 3-2 win (Nov. 9/07) and 2-0 loss (Nov. 10/07). On the road, Manitoba lost 3-2 in a shootout (Jan. 18/08) and 5-2 loss (Jan. 19/08). In the 2008 playoffs, Alberta won 2-0 in game one and 4-3 (3OT) in game two in Alberta.

The game started with goals coming fast and furious within the first four and half minutes. After Alberta was called for an early power play, the Pandas were the team that took advantage after a breakdown at the point, Miranda Miller skated in from the Pandas’ blueline and beat Bisons’ goaltender Dana Hoogsteen on her glove side for the first shot face by Hoogsteen. The Bisons responded quickly with Meghan Ross scoring on the power play from assists by Tammy Brade and Katherine O’Rourke. This was Manitoba’s first power play goal of this Championship.

Just past the halfway mark, Alberta was called for two penalties that provided the Herd with a 5-on-3 for over a minute, and the Bisons capitalized when captain Leanne Kisil potted the goal from the side of the net. Ross and O’Rourke had their second points of the match with both assisting on the power play tally. The rest of the period had spirited play from both teams, with several close chances but no additional scoring. At the end of one, Manitoba 2-1 and outshooting Alberta 6-5.

In the second period, Manitoba killed off an early penalty with Hoogsteen making two tough saves with her pads and glove to deny Alberta. Halfway into the period, the Pandas scored the equalizer on the power play when Leah Copeland fired a low shot that went the through the legs of Hoogsteen. For the second time in the game, Manitoba regained the lead when Addie Miles found Chantal Larocque at the side of the net and she jammed it home (13:30). After two, Manitoba led 3-2 and Alberta was leading in shots by a 13-10 margin (8-4 for Alberta in the second).

The third period got off to another fast start. At the 2:31 mark, the Bisons extended their lead to 4-2, with fifth year Stephanie Messner scoring from Sarah Stebeleski. Alberta had two more chances on the power play in the third with Hoogsteen standing strong against tough shots (including a glove and pad save), and getting good support from Bisons defense and a shot from Pandas’ Miranda Miller that rang off the post.

With 1:40 left to go, the Bisons ended the game with the man advantage. The Pandas pulled their goalie but to no avail. The Bisons brought home their third bronze medal in as many trips to the CIS Championships.

Fifth year goalie Dana Hoogsteen was named the player of the game for the Bisons. For the Pandas, it was Leah Copeland.

The Championship Final will be played at 6 p.m. CT with #1 seed McGill Martlets versus the #3 seed Laurier Golden Hawks. The game will be shown live on The Score network.

Manitoba Game Notes: The Bisons hold a 6-3 overall record in CIS National Championship in three appearances. They have a 3-0 record in bronze medal games in the Nationals. Last season, Manitoba also played the #2 seed (Laurier) in the bronze medal game. Goalie Stacey Corfield did not dress for the game and Jenna Illchuk was backing up Hoogsteen. This was Dana Hoogsteen’s first action since Feb. 2/08 vs. Lethbridge. This year, Manitoba goals for and against in the CIS Championship was seven (for) and nine (against). In the two previous appearances, Manitoba scored eight and gave up seven goals in 2007 and they scored four times and allowed seven in 2005. Larocque led the scoring for the Herd at Nationals with two goals while Meghan Ross and Tammy Brade each had a goal and an assist. Three other players each had a goal, and Coates and O’Rourke each had two assists.

In the first two games of the 2008 tournament, Manitoba lost to #1 seed McGill 6-0 in game one and then beat #4 seed St. Francis Xavier 3-1 in game two.

Recap of past Manitoba results at CIS Nationals: In the 2007 CIS Championship, Manitoba was the sixth seed and lost 4-1 to the #1 seed McGill; defeated #4 seed Moncton 4-1 and finished with a 3-2 win against #2 seed Laurier in the bronze medal game during their second appearance at Nationals. At the 2005 CIS Championship, Manitoba was the sixth seed and lost 6-0 to the #2 seed Laurier and then beat #3 seed Concordia by a 1-0 score, followed up with a 3-1 win against #5 seed McGill in the bronze medal game during their inaugural appearance at Nationals.
 

Stats on the CIS Championship website at: www.cisport.ca/e/championships/w_hockey/2008/results.cfm

SCORING SUMMARY(@ U. of Ottawa Sportsplex)

MANITOBA 4 ALBERTA 2 (FINAL)

First Period
1. AB – Mirada Miller (unassisted) 3:46 (SH)
2. MB - Meghan Ross (Tammy Brade and Katherine O’Rourke) 4:18 (PP)
3. MB - Leanne Kisil (Meghan Ross, Katherine O’Rourke) 11:58 (PP)

Second Period
4. AB – Leah Copeland (Jennifer Newton, Mia Mucci) 9:40 (PP)
5. MB - Chantal Larocque (unassisted) 13:30

Third Period
6. MB - Stephanie Messner (Amy Coates, Sarah Stebeleski) 2:31

Shots on Goal
            1-2-3=T
Manitoba  = 6 - 4 - 4= 14
Alberta  = 5- 8 - 15= 28

Power plays
Alberta     1/5
Manitoba  2/7

Players of the Game:
Manitoba – Dana Hoogsteen
Alberta - Leah Copeland

Tournament Scoring for Bisons
Chantal Larocque (2G)
Meghan Ross (1G, 1A)
Tammy Brade (1G, 1A)
Amy Coates (2A)
Katherine O’Rourke (2A)
Shannon Hoogsteen (1G)
Leanne Kisil (1G)
Stephanie Messner (1G)
Becca King (1A)
Addie Miles (1A)
Sarah Stebeleski (1A)