Cure the Puck Out of Cancer

Our roster is currently full, but we'd love to have any and all Ms. Conducts and families join in this great event.  There are many cancers that need funds and this is a great way to directly help the cause.  Why the Jimmy Fund? Because eighty-nine cents of every dollar you give goes directly to cancer research and patient care.*

Plan to join us to support all those affected by cancer.  We may want fans cheering for us, but cancer patients and their families NEED fans cheering them on in their battle.

*http://www.jimmyfund.org/About-Us/Impact-of-Your-Giving/

Finishing Strong in VT

For the second straight year, the Ms. Conducts competed in the Hockey Fights MS: VT tournament in Burlington, Vermont and, this year, they came away with their first tournament victory much to the delight of head coach, Christian Chedel.  

The ladies' first game against the Red Solo Pucks in Waterbury was a hard-fought 2-0 victory thanks to two goals by defenseman Colleen Callahan.  The ladies had many chances thanks to cross-checking and high stick penalties taken by a frustrated opponent.  The Ms. Conducts kept their cool and, according to Chedel, played their best hockey in the third period, helping goaltender Michelle Donnelly with her first of four tourney shutouts.

The Ms. Conducts began Saturday with a game at UVM's Gutterson Fieldhouse against the Ice Queens.  Callahan, again, got the Ms. Conducts on the board early in the first period. Pam Hegarty took a slashing penalty during the game and the Ms. Conducts successfully killed the penalty.  Shereen Tyrrell battled on the boards and made a great cross-ice breakout pass early in the third period. Katie Castagno scored the team's second goal of the game and the ladies held on for another shutout by Donnelly.

After a team lunch at The Skinny Pancake on Burlington's waterfront, game three put the Ms. Conducts up against recent April Showers victors, the NEWHL Nasty Habits. An early goal by Callahan frustrated the Nasty Habits and chippy play ensued.  Amelie Gagnon scored on her own rebound off a feed from Lori Gress, and a blue line goal by Katie Castagno secured a 3-0 victory and a third shutout by Donnelly.

On Saturday night, the girls had a team-bonding evening of 80s dance tunes at Nectar's in Burlington and tucked in early to prepare for a Sunday game against Wicked 2.  Sandy "Stiletto" O'Sullivan put the Ms. Conducts on the board in the first period off a shot from the blue line. The team spent the rest of the first period peppering the Wicked 2 goalie with shots high and low, yet couldn't get any to cross the goal line.  The Ms. Conducts dominated the entire game from face-off wins by Pam Hegarty to backchecking by Mary Lalley and Amelie Gagnon, to strong passing by Trisch Grimes and Michelle Bramante, to scoring chances by Stephanie Vaccaro, to strong defense by Dusty Beeley, O'Sullivan, Castagno, Callahan, and Lowenstein.  Goals from Lori Gress, Julie Dalton, Keri Capobianco, and Castagno added to the day's tallies and the Ms. Conducts secured the tournament title on yet another shutout by Donnelly. 

BANNER DAY: Ms. Conducts 2 Win!!

No jinx here: opening the victory umbrellas indoors is priceless!!!

It was a banner day for the Ms. Conducts 2 as they brought home the championship banner with their 1-0 win over the Rockin' Rookies.  Laura Souza scored the only goal needed with 39 seconds left in the third period off a feed from Tricia Teixeira.  While every player could be mentioned for specific plays like a strong shot, a great pass, or a smart play, each player stepped up and deserves mention for teamwork, hustle, dedication, and perseverance, too.  Judy Durling and Sandy O'Sullivan both had great shots from the point, Dawn Cornish continued to carry the puck with confidence and speed, Ellen Babcock is a force to be reckoned with, and Angela Spagna moves the puck well in the offensive zone.  Charlene DeRoche makes strong passes across the crease, and Shereen Tyrell makes smart passes in the offensive zone creating scoring chances.  Kellie Reid backchecks and is incredibly strong, Brigid Hurley always battles and is strong on her stick, and Laura Sousa and Tricia Teixeira work so well together to make great plays. Michelle Bramante skates hard, fast, and is incredibly smart on the ice, and Rita Toscano gets the puck to the net and gets in the fray without hesitation.  Goaltender Allison Morlock was solid in net for the victory. Congrats on a job well done -- and a banner well deserved!

Earlier in the day, the Ms. Conducts 1 battled hard, but came up short against the NEWHL's Nasty Habits team, losing the final 2-1.  Keri Capobianco scored the lone goal with less than three minutes remaining in the game when the team's desperation became obvious.  Despite adding a fourth forward (and staying with only one defenseman), the team couldn't pull the trigger to tie the game.  The loss of Amelie Gagnon (windpipe!!) was big, and a lucky deflection (off a skate) by the Nasty Habits was the difference maker.  Goaltender Amy Burke all but stood on her head to keep the team in the game.  In the end, the girls ran out of time, but kept smiles on their faces and proved there is no "I" in team. Congrats on a solid tournament!!

Wrecking the Bracket

Sandy O'Sullivan (17) is in perfect scoring position as Michelle Bramante and Tricia Teixeira wait to make a play.

The Ms. Conducts 2 had their third game of the tournament Sunday morning and they handily wrecked the D Wreckers (a NEWHL team) with a 5-0 victory at NVO rink. With six points and already in the finals, the girls kept the play mostly in their offensive zone with the blue line handled easily by Sandy "Stiletto" O'Sullivan, Dawn Cornish, Ellen Babcock, and Judy Durling.  Halfway through the first period, the Wreckers goalie was injured during a play, leaving a great opportunity for the girls to get on the board.  Laura Souza got the Ms. Conducts on the board off a feed from Brigid Hurley and the girls never looked back.

Shortly into the second period, the D Wreckers goalie was pulled from the earlier injury and a sixth skater manned the net.  While the Ms. Conducts didn't score during that brief no-goalie time, Rita Castagno and Durling had great chances to score, and Charlene DeRoche had a great pass across the slot that didn't connect.  Angela Spagna sat on the post waiting for a shot, but the puck never made it to her. Kellie Reid and Hurley both had solid scoring chances, and a non-call as Reid was tripped up in front of the net could have easily frustrated the ladies.  Instead, it fired them up and the girls began to pepper the replacement Wrecker goalie with shots. Michelle Bramante scored her first of two goals (unassisted) to put the team ahead 2-0 at the end of two periods of play.

Bramante scored her second goal of the game on a one-timer from the slot on a pass from Shereen Tyrell.  Tricia Teixeira scored on a glove-side high shot and Babcock closed out the scoring on a shot from the blue line.  Goaltender Allison Morlock didn't see much action and secured her third shutout of the tourney.

Rocking to a Victory

The Ms. Conducts two faced a tougher opponent on Saturday evening at the Nashoba Valley rink as they faced off against the Rockin' Rookies.  Scoreless in the first period, defenseman Judy Durling notched the only tally of the game as she scored five-hole from the point.  Her shot trickled past the RR goaltender halfway through the second period.  Shots from Rita Castagno, Angela Spagna, and Kellie Reid kept the pressure in their offensive zone. In the third period, Laura Souza had a strong pass to Charlene DeRoche who got off a solid shot.  Dawn Cornish carried the puck end-to-end only to be stopped just short of the slot.  Tricia Texeira (hooking) and Ellen Babcock (hooking) both took penalties that the team killed off.  Goaltender Amy Burke and the Ms. Conducts 2 went to the locker room with their second shutout of the day.

Afternoon Catnap

The Ms. Conducts 1 had an afternoon match-up against the Cheshire Ice Cats at Nashoba Valley Sports Arena and came away with another decisive victory.  After picking off an errant pass in the neutral zone, Julie Dalton took a shot that slipped through the goalie's pads and sat on the goaline; wing Pam Hegarty slapped it home for the first tally of the game.  Moments later on the same shift, Dalton picked up the puck in the defensive zone and scored unassisted.

In the second period, the Ms. Conducts couldn't score on the power play, yet successfully killed a minor bench penalty that Lori Gress served for too many men on the ice.  Mary Lalley and Trisch "Alabama" Grimes had good scoring chances but couldn't put the puck in the net. 

In the third period, non-calls by the refs (tripping, checking, and hooking) created frustration on both teams.  Goaltender Amy Burke made several game-changing saves that kept her shutout alive.  Keri Capobianco took a slashing penalty and the team rallied to preserve the win.

Hell Hath No Fury...

...like determined Ms. Conducts!!  The Ms. Conducts 1 team skated to a 1-0 win this morning against Helle's Belles at the Valley Sports Arena.  Matched up against a tougher opponent, Coach Chedel said the girls really stepped it up.  The first period was a "get settled" period with some ping pong hockey and only a few offensive chances for both teams.  With 3:18 left in the second period, Lori Gress proved that putting the puck on the net is always a good thing as Keri Capobianco backhanded a rebound for the only tally of the game.  Late in the third period, center Mary Lalley preserved goaltender Allison Morlock's second shutout of the day by stepping into the net and making a stick save as the loose puck dribbled into the crease.  A quick whistle ended the play and the Ms. Conducts held on for their second tournament victory.