Alberni Valley Minor Hockey Association

FEMALE - MIDGET  A

FUSION

November 4, 2009

FUSION OFF TO A GREAT START...

The Breakers Marine Female Midget A Fusion started their season with an impressive two wins.  On October 24th they picked up their first league victory with a score of 3-0 against the Sooke Thundersbirds in Sooke. The Fusion meant business when Shayla Frechette scored the first goal only 1:47 into the game. Keeping up with strong starts, Abby Hawkins scored the second goal in the first shift of the second period with the assist going to Johanna Neufeld.

During the second half, the Fusion started out slow but managed to hold the lead with some great goaltending from Hayley Dowling. In the third period with only 1:51 left on the clock, Krista Plaunt sealed the deal with her first goal of the season unassisted.  Dowling recorded her first shutout stopping all 32 shots.

The Fusion met North Island Edge in Comox for an exhibition game on Halloween Day.  Fusion’s hard work and team effort paid off as they defeated North Island for the first time ever. Fusions captain Samm Moore got the first goal of the game giving her team a 1-0 lead.  The Edge squeezed one through just minutes later tying the game up 1-1.  Sam Campbell scored Fusions next two goals finishing the second period with a 3-1 lead. As Fusion entered the third period Moore got her second of the game putting her team ahead by three and they never looked back. North Island Edge picked it up in the third scoring two more goals, trying for one more to tie it up but the  Fusion held strong, finishing the game with a 4-3 win.

Goaltenders Hayley Dowling and Danielle Otte split the game stopping a total of 24 shots.

Next weekend the Fusion head to Burnaby to participate in the 6th Annual Minor Female Tournament.

 

Defensemen Carly Gill(18) and Joanna Neufeld (5) keep an eye out in front of Goalie Hayley Dowling in Saturday’s win against North Island Edge

Forwards Samm Moore (14) and Samm Campbell (2) contributed the all the scoring against North Island in the AV Fusion win.

Written by:

Dionne Bouchard, Katie Isherwood, Jessie McMeekin, Nikki Buffie.

November 20, 2009

FUSION SCORE BIG ON MAINLAND

 

 

Pics: Kim Maedel #19, Samm Moore #14, Krista Plaunt #17, Jessie McMeekin #7

The Breakers Marine Female Midget A Fusion left an impressive mark in the Remembrance Day Burnaby Female tournament last weekend. Although they lost a heartbreaker in a shootout in the finals, they dominated their division over the weekend. They outscored their opponents 21 to 6 in the five games played. Five Fusion players cracked the top ten in overall tournament scoring with Samm Moore finishing first overall with 10 points.

The first and only game on Saturday the Fusion took awhile to get their legs going but ended up with a 3-0 win against the North Shore Avalanche. In the first period Nicolette Savard opened the scoring on a pretty play set up by Kim Maedel and Samm Moore. Moore scored the next two goals assisted by Guilia Grumbach and Sam Campbell. The defense played a very strong game giving Hayley Dowling the shutout, having to stop sixteen shots.

On Sunday, the Fusions’ next opponents were from Semiahmoo, who came out of the gate very strong but the Fusion managed to score the first goal by Maedel (Savard).  Semiahmoo tied the game forty-nine seconds into the second period but that seemed to spark the Fusion as they came back and scored two quick goals by Grumbach (Moore, Carly Gill). Moore sealed the deal in the third at the 6 minute mark to give the Fusion their second win. Goaltender Danielle Otte stopped 19 shots.

Sunday’s second game saw the Fusion face TriCities. The Fusion overpowered TriCities from the opening whistle as they cruised to a 7-0 victory. Shayla Frechette contributed with two goals and singles went to Dionne Bouchard, Kyla Schafer, Kim Maedel, and Samm Moore with assists going to Sam Campbell, Nicolette Savard and Katie Isherwood.

Monday morning’s 7 am game came way too early but the Fusion were awake as they stomped the Washington Wild 8-2. Five goals were scored in the opening period starting with a nice shot from the point from defenseman Jessie McMeekin (Moore). Sam Campbell had a strong game with 1 goal and 3 assists. Kim Maedel and Katie Isherwood each had two goals with singles going to Krista Plaunt and Abby Hawkins.

Monday afternoon’s final against North Shore Winter Club saw teams with similar records (the Fusion coming in first overall), battle for the championship.  North Shore opened the scoring just one minute into the game on a deflection from the corner but the Fusion countered back with a determined play by Krista Plaunt (Moore, Bouchard) to “finish” at the net. Four minutes later Abby Hawkins put the Fusion ahead with a nice wraparound, catching the North Shore goaltender out of position.  The score remained the same until the fifteen minute mark of the third period when North Shore managed to squeeze one past Fusion goaltender Dowling. Although the Fusion spent the next five minutes of the game pressuring the opposition, they could not find the back of the net.  

The final went into a shootout. North Shore scored with their first shooter and although the Fusion came close, they could not put the puck past the North Shore goaltender.

Coaches Diana Moore and Dave Dowling could not have asked for anything more than the effort and hard work the girls put into all their games. It’s something they should be proud of and carry on in their season.

 

January 27, 2010  -  FUSION NET 1st PLAYOFF WIN

The Breakers Marine/Grumbach & Sons Midget A Female Fusion pulled off a nail biter as they took their first playoff game against the Saanich Braves 3-2.

Saanich opened the scoring on a power play goal midway through the first period. The Fusion tied the game in the second on a goal from Samm Moore (S.Campbell/N. Savard) and went ahead a minute later when Sam Campbell scored a pretty goal assisted by Nicolette Savard and Jessie McMeekin. Saanich managed to tie it before the period was over.

In the third period, the Fusion staged an attack on Saanich and finally Nicolette Savard (J. McMeekin/S. Campbell) put one past a very hot Saanich goalie to go ahead 3-2. Danielle Otte made a key save with seconds left in the game to preserve the win. Shots on net were 47-14 for the Fusion.

Next Saturday, January 30^th, the AV Fusion meet the Kerry Park Islanders at the multiplex at 10:00 am. Come and support your female hockey players. The team has been known to say they play better the more fans there are.

submitted by Diane Moore

 

February 2, 2010   Fusion Pull Off Big Upset

There was reason to cheer on Saturday, Jan. 30th as the Breaker’s Marine/Grumbach & Sons Midget A Female Fusion skated to a huge 2-1 playoff win against Kerry Park Islanders, a team they haven’t beaten all season.

With great fan support the Fusion opened the scoring at 17:33 of the second period on a tic-tac-toe play from Samm Moore, Nicolette Savard and goal scorer Sammy Campbell. The Fusion held on to the lead through the second but the Islanders managed to sneak one past Fusion goalie Hayley Dowling with just one minute left in the second. At the 15 minute mark of the third period, The Moore line gained the opposition blueline and with a “Sedin-like” pass, Campbell fed Savard for a one-timer on which the Kerry Park goalie made an incredible save on but Moore was there to pop in the rebound.  With the 2-1 lead the Fusion could smell the victory and played their best defensive hockey ever.  With two minutes left, Kerry Park pulled their goalie but could not generate any quality shots against a determined Fusion team.

With two playoff wins under their belt, The Fusion’s chances to vie for a spot in the Provincials are becoming a reality. The fan support was greatly appreciated and they were not disappointed. Next weekend, the Fusion play two more playoff games to determine first and second placing on the Island. On Saturday, Feb 6th they travel to Campbell River to face the North Island Edge and on Sunday, Feb 7th they host the Sooke Thunderbirds at the Multiplex. The puck drops at 2:30 pm.

submitted by Diane Moore

(below) FUSION bench in San Jose

February 3, 2010   -   The Midget A Fusion find success in “Uncharted Territory”

The Breakers Marine Fusion made an impact down south in San Jose, California as they participated in the Annual Martin Luther King Female Hockey Tournament.  The Fusion boarded a Motor Coach last Wednesday and made the 26 hour bus ride to San Jose without a glitch. They arrived the next day and settled in a Mansion they rented for the week.  Friday was spent in San Francisco enjoying the sights and Saturday morning they got down to business playing their first game against the Northwest Selects from Oregon.

The first period saw no scoring as both teams played pretty defensively. Midway through the second period, The Fusion opened the scoring netting two goals 20 seconds apart. (Giulia Grumbach from J. Dowling/ A. Hawkins and Jessie McMeekin from G. Grumbach/S. Campbell). Samantha Campbell had a strong game as she scored the next two goals (both assisted by Samm Moore and Nicolette Savard) and the Fusion cruised to a 4-0 win. Goalie Hayley Dowling picked up the shutout stopping 18 shots.

Immediately after their win, the Fusion headed to the Shark Tank to catch an NHL game with San Jose beating the Edmonton Oilers 4-2. After the game, some of the girls managed to meet Devin Setoguchie of the Sharks and got a few pointers that they took into their second game of the tournament played that evening against the Colorado Selects. The Selects came out strong and physical as the scored their first goal just three minutes into the game.  The referees had their hands full as numerous penalties were called during the game. The score remained the same until the seven minute mark of the third period when defenseman Carly Gill let a slap shot go from the point and found the back of the net.

That seemed to spark the Fusion as less than a minute later Krista Plaunt found the puck in a scramble and buried it in the Colorado net. The fans went crazy! The Fusion held the pressure from Colorado until Sam Campbell got possession of the puck in her own end with 42 seconds left and shot it into the Colorado empty net for a 3-1 victory. Goalie Danielle Otte had a strong game stopping 19 shots.

Sunday morning the Fusion went up against the host team, Jr. Sharks and skated to an easy 6-2 win.

Goal scorers were Samm Moore with a hat trick, Katie Isherwood, Kim Maedel and Krista Plaunt. Assists went to Shayla Frechette (3), S. Campbell (2), K. Isherwood (2), K. Plaunt (2) and N. Savard.

Sunday night pitted the Fusion against the Orangeville Tigers from Ontario, the top 2 teams fighting for first place. The Tigers opened the scoring in the 2^nd period but the Fusion responded with two goals one minute apart on a couple of beautiful plays from Shayla Frechette and Krista Plaunt. The score remained the same until the thirteen minute mark when Orangeville tied it on a power play. The tie put the Fusion in #1 position with a 3-0-1 record at the end of the round robin.  They would have to once again meet the Tigers in the finals, making it an all Canadian final on Monday.

Krista Plaunt (K. Isherwood, K. Schafer) opened the scoring at the 5 minute mark of the first periods as the Fusion came out flying outshooting the Tigers 11-1. Orangeville tied the game midway through the second period and remained tied going into the third until the Fusion ran into penalty trouble. Orangeville scored the go ahead goal on a power play and then put the game away on a 5 on 3 power play. The Fusion ran out of steam and settled for a second place finish.

The bus ride home was very quiet but what the Fusion accomplished and experienced in the past week will always remain with them throughout their lives.  The trip couldn’t have been possible without the support of sponsors, Breakers Marine and Grumbach & Sons, parents, Manager Gayle Hawkins, and Bus drivers Bill Cove and Doug Moore.

The Fusion played their best hockey to date and hope to bring their experience and spirit into the playoffs which begin on January 24^th against the Saanich Braves. Stay tuned.

submitted by Diane Moore

 

February 17, 2010  -  FUSION LOSE IN TRIPLE OT

The Midget A Female Fusion almost pulled off an upset against the North Island Edge, who are the top team on the Island. Valentine’s Day morning the Fusion converged for a special pancake breakfast hosted by sponsors Breakers Marine & Grumbach & Sons and set off to Campbell River for the first game of a best out of three for the Island championship.

From the drop of the puck, the Fusion had to contend with penalties in the first half and the Edge finally managed to put one past goalie, Hayley Dowling. The Edge went ahead 2-0 in the second before Fusion forward Katie Isherwood closed the gap with a pretty goal set up by Krista Plaunt and Kyla Schafer.  Shayla Frechette tied things up just two minutes later, on a nice feed by Samm Moore.   The Edge scored with just minutes left in the second to go ahead 3-2.  The Fusion had a chance to tie it up midway through the third on a power play but a couple of bad bounces ended up with the Edge scoring a shorthanded goal.

Down two goals, the Fusion didn’t give up and kept pressing and were finally rewarded with less than two minutes remaining when Abby Hawkins (G. Grumbach) jammed one in the side post to give the Fusion hope.  After a timeout called by the coaches, the Fusion must have done what the coaches asked as they gained the offensive zone, pulled the goalie and scored the tying goal by Sam Campbell (Frechette and Moore) with thirty seconds left on the clock.

The first overtime saw the Fusion have to kill three consecutive penalties but managed to come out of that period with hopes still alive thanks to some great goaltending by Dowling.  Going into the second overtime reenergized, the Fusion had many chances to put it away but failed to beat the North Island goalie. The third overtime saw the Fusion miss two open nets and hit one goalpost dominating the first 5 minutes but the Edge took advantage of a blocked shot at their blue line creating a breakaway and scored the winning goal.

Don’t count the Fusion out yet. This exciting series will continue here at home when they host the NI Edge Saturday Feb 20^th 11:45am at the Multiplex.  Fan support is greatly appreciated.

written by Diane Moore