Action across the sixth weekend of the Premier Hockey Federation regular season schedule continued with three games on Saturday.
Montreal Force 2, Minnesota Whitecaps 5
Natalie Snodgrass celebrated her 24th birthday in style with a natural hat-trick to lead Minnesota to a third-straight victory on home ice. Her three goals erased a 2-1 second period deficit and doubled her first season tally count, also bringing her newcomer point total to 10. The Whitecaps were in a festive mood throughout the game, wearing special ‘ugly sweaters’ and collecting teddy bears from fans who flooded the ice after Sidney Morin’s snipe. Jonna Albers picked up her fifth goal of the year with an empty-net marker, and Amanda Leveille won her fourth game of the season making 19 saves. Montreal’s offense opened on the power play with defender Christine Deaudelin’s third of the year, while Ann-Sophie Bettez scored her fourth. Tricia Deguire stopped 31 shots in defeat.
Metropolitan Riveters 5, Connecticut Whale 2
Metropolitan ended a seven-game road trip with their fourth win of the season, heading into the holiday break on a high note. Connecticut led 1-0 after the first period on a shorthanded goal by Taylor Girard. The Riveters responded with a three-goal flurry in the middle frame, as Emile Harley, Amanda Pelkey, and Kelly Babstock all tallied in the span of 1:23 to give the visitors a 3-1 advantage after 40. Emma Vlasic got one back for Connecticut with her first of the year late in the third, but Pelkey’s second of the contest and an empty-better from Sarah Bujold iced the outcome. The Whale outshot the Riveters 42-26 with Eveliina Makinen earning the victory between-the-pipes opposite Abbie Ives.
Toronto Six 6, Buffalo Beauts 4
Toronto’s six-goal outburst clinched a weekend sweep with six points propelling them into first place in the overall standings. Emma Woods scored her fifth goal in 10 games to give T6 the first period lead. The next three goals came from Buffalo in the second period, courtesy of Summer-Rae Dobson, Claudia Kepler, and Mikyla Grant-Mentis who tallied her first as a member of the Beauts and against her former team. A middle frame marker from captain Shiann Darkangelo and an early third period goal from Leah Lum made it a 3-3 game. Beauts captain Dominique Kremer scored her first of the year at 10:31 of the third, but Buffalo couldn’t withstand the T6 attack. Defender Kati Tabin scored the equalizer at 14:30, and Darkangelo’s second of the night at 17:11 was the difference. Breanne Wilson-Bennett scored an empty-netter at 18:16 for insurance. Elaine Chuli made 29 saves for T6 who were outshot by Buffalo. Lovisa Berndtsson stopped 21. Buffalo wore special jerseys as part of their ‘Autism Acceptance’ game.
Cover photo by Kayla Franz
