2005 Esso Women's Nationals

Nova Scotia -5 Prince Edward Island -5

Round Robin
March 9, 2005
Sarnia, ON

by Dwight Anderson
Sarniasports.com

Nova Scotia laced up the skates against P.E.I. in their first game of the tournament. P.E.I. has been absent from the Nationals for the past 2 years.  The last time these teams met was in 2001 when P.E.I. skated to a 2-1 overtime win over Nova Scotia.

Nova Scotia carried the play early in the first period.  P.E.I goal tender Amy Handrahan came up with several solid saves.  P.E.I. opened the scoring 5 minutes into the game on the power play as Genna Phelan redirected a shot by Robyn MacDonald to give P.E.I. a 1-0 lead.  The remainder of the first period was scoreless featuring end-to-end action.

Jayne Knowles scored for Nova Scotia on a scramble early into the second period but  P.E.I. regained the lead midway into the second after  Mary MacKinnon was left alone in the slot,  she received a pass from Robyn MacDonald and made no mistake about it.  Pam LeClair also assisted on the goal.  Nova Scotia was quick to respond as Jayne Knowles broke in alone deking Handrahan and going top shelf.   Nova Scotia took the lead 2 minutes later when Kori Cheverier made a nifty move; pulling the puck from a scramble and finding the five hole.  Genna Phelan put on a great individual effort seconds later scoring on the wrap around to tie the game. Twp minutes later; Brenda Hemphil went coast to coast scoring to give PEI a 4-3 lead.  Nova Scotia answered quickly on a well placed shot by Wanda Ruth from the top of the slot.

Nova Scotia got into penalty trouble early in the third period and  P.E.I. took advantage.  Genna Phelan found the twine on a great tic-tac-toe passing play from MJ Webster and Robyn MacDonald.  Nova Scotia answered quickly again when Kori Cheverier broke through the PEI defense to tie the game at 5.

The remainder of the game and 10 minutes of overtime was scoreless.  Fans were treated to a great game of hockey.  Kim Carcary was named player of the game for Nova Scotia while Mary MacKinnon picked up the honors for P.E.I.