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Tag: Lee Stecklein

  • Isobel Cup Final Recap – 3/17/19 – #2 Buffalo Beauts v. #1 Minnesota Whitecaps

    Isobel Cup Final Recap – 3/17/19 – #2 Buffalo Beauts v. #1 Minnesota Whitecaps

    #2 Buffalo Beauts v. #1 Minnesota Whitecaps

     

    Game Recap:

    The Isobel Cup has come to Minnesota as the #1 ranked Whitecaps host the #2 ranked Buffalo Beauts. To start the game, both teams would feel eachother out and see who would make the first mistake to see who can capitalize. The Whitecaps would get the first powerplay opportunity when Kelly Babstock would be called for Slashing, but the Beauts would kill off the penalty and generate an offense rush for themselves leading to Emily Pfalzer letting go of a bomb from the point to give the Beauts a late 1-0 lead. However, the Whitecaps would not sit back, and they would force a turnover and break Amy Menke into the Beauts zone to score top shelf above Nicole Hensley’s glove to tie the game with less than two minutes in the first period.

     

    For the second period, we would see a lot of back and forth between the two teams, however, the period would be plagued with four tripping penalties and neither team capitalizing on their powerplay opportunities. Both Hensley and Amanda Leveille played spectacular im this period.

     

    For the third period we would see things heat up as both teams trade chances and getting really close calls to swing the game their way, but both teams are getting great goaltending, some solid defense, and most importantly some really, really lucky bounces. However, neither team could get that next goal before the end of regulation, so this game will now go into overtime.

     

    In overtime it would only take 49 seconds for Lee Stecklein to bomb a point shot from a Katie McGovern pass to win the Minnesota Whitecaps their first ever Isobel Cup Championship in their first season in the NWHL.

     

    Lineups:

    Buffalo Beauts:

    Hayley Scamurra – Maddie Elia – Dani Cameranesi

    Emily Janiga – Kelly Babstock – Julianna Iafallo

    Corinne Buie – Annika Zalewski – Taylor Accursi

    Blake Bolden – Emily Pfalzer

    Lisa Chesson – Savannah Harmon

    Jacque Greco – Emily Pfalzer

    Blake Bolden – Sarah Edney

    Nicole Hensley

    Julia DiTondo

     

    Minnesota Whitecaps:

    Kendall Coyne-Schofield – Hannah Brandt – Amy Menke

    Jonna Curtis – Katie McGovern – Kate Schipper

    Kalli Funk – Laura Barnes – Allie Thunstrom

    Lee Stecklein – Amanda Boulier

    Winny Brown – Lisa Martinson

    Emma Stauber – Chelsey Rosenthal

    Amanda Leveille

    Julie Friend

     

    First Period:

    Beauts Penalty – 12:49 – Kelly Babstock 2 minutes for Slashing

    Beauts Goal – 17:01 – Emily Pfalzer from Blake Bolden and Annika Zalewski

    Whitecaps Goal – 18:23 – Amy Menke from Kendall Coyne Schofield and Lee Stecklein

     

    End of 1st – BUF – 1       MIN – 1

    Shots              08                04

    Faceoffs         08                05

    PP                 0/0                 0/1

     

    Second Period:

    Beauts Penalty – 3:58 – Savannah Harmon 2 minutes for Tripping

    Beauts Penalty – 12:16 – Dani Cameranesi 2 minutes for Tripping

    Whitecaps Penalty – 12:45 – Amanda Boulier 2 minutes for Tripping

    Whitecaps Penalty – 16:35 – Lauren Barnes 2 minutes for Tripping

     

    End of 2nd – BUF- 1        MIN- 1

    Shots               16                 18

    Faceoffs          21                 17

    PP                   0/2                  0/3

     

    Third Period:

    Whitecaps Penalty – 4:54 – Emma Stauber 2 minutes for Interference

    Beauts Penalty – 16:19 – Kelly Babstock 2 minutes for Tripping

     

    End of 3rd – BUF – 1         MIN – 1

    Shots              23                   29

    Faceoffs        31                    22

    PP                 0/3                    0/4

     

    Overtime:

    Whitecaps Goal – :49 – Lee Stecklein from Katie McGovern

     

    End of OT – BUF – 1         MIN – 2

    Shots              23                   30

    Faceoffs        31                    24

    PP                 0/3                    0/4

     

     

    Huge thanks to Erik Wollschlager of Die By The Blade for the assistance with the lineups

  • TXHT at the NWHL All Star Festivities!

    TXHT at the NWHL All Star Festivities!

    The NWHL hosted their All Star festivities in Nashville, TN this past weekend. The best players from all five teams came down and showcased their talents in front of an electric Nashville crowd. The skills competition was held at the Ford Ice Center, the practice facility for the Predators; while the All Star Game itself was at the Bridgestone Arena in Downtown Nashville.

    Here’s how the rosters looked for the weekend:

    NWHL-ASG2019-Roster-4_large
    Photo from nwhl.zone

    Skills Competition

    It was a full house at the Ford Ice Center for the NWHL skills competition; people gathered to watch the players have fun and show off. The first event was the fastest skater, in which Kristin Lewicki won the event last year. This year had the likes of Michelle Picard, Amanda Pelkey, Lexi Bender, and Kendall Coyne Schofield for Team Szabados; and Lisa Chesson, Jonna Curtis, Kate Schipper, and Allie Thunstrom for Team Stecklein. If anyone saw the NHL’s fastest skater competition, knows that Coyne was going to be the odds on favorite, and she delivered. Coyne was actually faster than when she did the NHL’s event, [14.3 for the NHL and 13.9 for the NWHL].

    The next competition was the fastest goalies, in which Amanda Leveille returned to defend her title. All four goalies Katie Burt, Amanda Leveille, Shannon Szabados, and Nicole Hensley skated. The final showdown came in the form of a “battle of the teammates” Szabados v Hensley, and it was Nicole Hensley who claims bragging rights.

    Accuracy shooting was up next, where Corinne Buie was the winner last year. The three shooters for Team Szabados were Haley Skarupa, Haley Scamurra, and Savannah Harmon and the three shooters for Team Stecklein were Hannah Brandt, Dani Cameranesi, and Emily Pfalzer. In the end, it was Dani Cameranesi who proved to be the most accurate!

    Talents were on display during the next event, which was the trick shot challenge. All of the skaters have great hands and great creative minds. For Team Szabados it was Amanda Kessel, Madison Packer, and Katerina Mrázová and for Team Stecklein it was Gigi Marvin, Emily Fluke, and Jillian Dempsey. In this particular event, the fans got to vote for the winner of the competition. The event had everything, from Amanda Kessel doing the Flying V from the Mighty Ducks, to Madison Packer with a smooth spin-o-rama attempt that almost scored, to Emily Fluke throwing a cowboy hat, and having her second shot saved by Katie Burt with her back toward her.

    In the end it was Team Stecklein who won over the fans and getting their vote.

    Up next was the hardest shot competition with players who can really bring the heat on their slapshots. Last years winner of the event was Kelsey Koezler, and the players looking to take the title were, for Team Szabados were Shannon Doyle, Amanda Boulier, Audra Richards, and Blake Bolden; and for Team Stecklein were Michelle Löwenhielm, Alyssa Gagliardi, Courtney Burke, and the captain Lee Stecklein. There were a lot of really hard shots, but Blake Bolden won with her shot reaching 80 mph!

    The last event was a go for goal shootout relay in which all the skaters for Team Szabados and Team Stecklein took shootout attempts, and the team with the most goals was declared the winner. After some pretty nifty attempts, it was Team Stecklein who won the event.

    This meant at the end of all competitions, both teams were tied at three wins a piece. It meant that to settle it in a tiebreaker, it was captain vs captain in a best two out of three shootout attempts. Szabados made all the saves and her team won the Skills Competition!

    Audio from Dani Cameranesi of the Buffalo Beauts [Team Stecklein]

    Audio from Kendall Coyne Schofield of the Minnesota Whitecaps [Team Szabados]

    All Star Game

    The All Star Game took place at Bridgestone Arena after the Blues v. Predators game, in which the St. Louis Blues proved victorious in overtime.

    Predators Game.jpg

    It wouldn’t be Nashville without someone throwing a catfish on the ice that landed right by Shannon Doyle just before the opening faceoff.

    Catfish Opening Faceoff.jpg

    Both teams skated to two 25 minute halves of four on four hockey. In the first half, Team Szabados jumped out to the lead, the goal coming from the Riveters rookie forward Audra Richards. Richards, who has eight goals on the year continues her scoring prowess by getting the opening marker. Later in the half, Shannon Doyle led the rush and made a nice drop pass on top of the circle, and it fell on the stick of leading Connecticut Whale scorer Katerina Mrázová, who roofed the shot over Nicole Hensley. The goal gave Team Szabados a 2-0 lead heading into halftime.

    https://twitter.com/WSportHilites/status/1094711430144774145

    During the intermission, and because Nashville is known as Music City, there was some live music being played while we waited for the second half.

    The second half had a lot of good back and forth action and then Gigi Marvin took a shot from the point which got redirected by Lisa Chesson and it found the net beating Katie Burt. The goal cut the Team Szabados lead in half. Later in the half, the game would be tied at two as Whale captain Emily Fluke netting a five hole goal!

    Both goalies [Leveille and Burt] made really incredible saves and at the end of the second half, the score was tied at two. The game moved into a shootout in which Amanda Kessel was the first shooter and she beat Leveille five hole. Then Katie Burt stopped all three Team Stecklein attempts, giving the victory to Team Szabados!

    The best part about the All Star Game weekend was the attendance by the Nashville faithful. The recorded attendance was 6, 120, which set a record for largest crowd for a women’s hockey game in the United States!

    Audio from Amanda Kessel of the Metropolitan Riveters [Team Szabados]:

    Audio from Jonna Curtis of the Minnesota Whitecaps [Team Stecklein]:

    Audio from Shannon Szabados of the Buffalo Beauts [Team Szabados]:

    Audio from Lee Stecklein of the Minnesota Whitecaps [Team Stecklein]:

    Tweet from Women’s Sports Highlights and Anya Battaglino were used with their permission. You can follow them on Twitter here: @WSportHilites and @battaglinoa

  • Five Whale Players Going To Nashville!

    Five Whale Players Going To Nashville!

    NWHL All Star Game
    The NWHL’s All Star Team was named the other day and there are five players headed to Nashville this season for the Connecticut Whale. Last year the Whale had four players at the All Star Game in Minnesota, and it was Kelly Babstock, Sydney Rossman, Sam Faber, and Amanda Boulier who went.
    The Whale players playing for Lee Stecklein’s team will be captain Emily Fluke and Michelle Löwenhielm.
    The Whale players playing for Shannon Szabados’s team will be Meeri Räisänen, leading scorer Katerina Mrázová, and Shannon Doyle.
    Let’s take a look at the stats that got them there.

    Emily Fluke
    Voted to the All Star Game via fan vote; in the six games played so far this season, she has tallied a goal and has two assists for three points. While not the most stellar of numbers, she has been one of the hardest working forwards on the top line.

    Michelle Lowenhielm
    In her first season in the NWHL; in the six games she has played, she has done really well. She is still waiting for that elusive first goal, but she has registered three assists. Including a sweet assist to Mrázová while the Whale were shorthanded against the Riveters.

    Meeri Raisanen

    She has quite honestly been one of the Whale’s best players all season long. In the six games she has started, she has gone 2-3-1, with a 2.72 GAA and a .918 save percentage. In her last game, she recorded a shutout on her birthday.

    Shannon Doyle
    In the six games she has played, she has been one of the Whale’s best defenders on the ice, blocking numerous shots. She has also recorded two goals this season, both goals came in her last three games, including a late game winner against the Riveters.

    Katerina Mrazova
    In her first season in the NWHL, in the six games she has played, she leads the team in goals and points. She has tallied five goals and two assists for seven points. She also leads the team in shots on goal with 22. Two of her five goals have been on the power play. Also, one goal came while the team was shorthanded against the Riveters.
    Congrats to all the players selected, it is absolutely well deserved!

    NWHL All Star graphics courtesy of the NWHL. Special Thanks to Chris Botta for permission for the use of the NWHL graphics.

  • NWHL All Star Rosters Announced!

    NWHL All Star Rosters Announced!

    NWHL All Star Draft

    The NWHL named their All Star rosters yesterday. There will be two teams which will be captained by Minnesota Whitecaps defensemen Lee Stecklein and Buffalo Beauts goalie Shannon Szabados.
    Let’s look at the rosters:

    Team Stecklein

    Lee Stecklein

    The captain of the all star team is still looking for her first goal of the year, but she has tallied six assists, one on the power play, in the eight games she has played.

    Nicole Hensley

    The US goalie boasts a record of 1-1 with a 2.00 GAA and a .889 save percentage on the year. She also has recorded a shutout, which came against the Whale in Connecticut.

    Amanda Leveille

    The starting goalie for the Whitecaps has had a great season, boasting a record of 6-2 with a 2.32 GAA and a .916 save percentage.

    Emily Pfalzer

    In the six games that she has played this season, she has registered one goal on the year.

    Lisa Chesson

    In the six games that she has played so far this season, she has tallied one goal and added three assists for four points on the year.

    Courtney Burke

    In the five games that she has skated this season, she is still looking for her first goal of the year, but she has tallied two assists. One of those assists came on the power play.

    Alyssa Gagliardi

    In the seven games played she has registered one goal and one assist. Her goal came on the power play.

    Michelle Lowenhielm

    The Swedish NWHL rookie is still looking for her first goal but she has tallied three assists, including one on the power play and one while shorthanded.

    Emily Fluke

    One of the players voted to the All Star Game via fan vote; the captain of the Whale, in the six games she has played, has registered one goal and two assists for three points on the year. One assist came on the power play.

    Hannah Brandt

    In the eight games she has played, she has registered three goals and three assists for six points on the year. One of her goals came while the team was shorthanded.

    Dani Cameranesi

    In the four games that she has skated, she has tallied one goal on the year while also contributing five assists for six points.

    Gigi Marvin

    In the seven games she’s played, she has registered six goals and three assists for nine points. She is tied for the team lead in goals and she leads the team in points.

    Jonna Curtis

    In the eight games she has played, she has tallied four goals and seven assists for eleven points on the year. She leads the Whitecaps in points.

    Jillian Dempsey

    In the seven games she’s played, she has registered six goals and added two assists for eight points. She is tied for the team lead in goals.

    Allie Thunstrom

    In the eight games she has played, she has put up two goals and two assists for four points on the season.

    Kate Schipper

    In the eight games that she has skated, she tallied four goals and four assists for eight points on the year.

    Team Szabados

    Shannon Szabados

    The captain of the all star team and the second Beauts goalie at the all star game, the Canadian Olympian boasts a record of 2-2 with a 1.75 GAA and a .934 save percentage. She has also registered one shutout on the year.

    Meeri Raisanen

    The first year NWHLer and Finnish Olympian boasts a record of 2-3-1 and has a 2.72 GAA and a .918 save percentage. She also has one shutout registered on the year, which she got on her birthday against the Riveters in Pittsburgh.

    Blalke Bolden

    In the six games she has skated this year, she is still looking for her first goal of the season, but has tallied two assists for the Beauts.

    Savannah Harmon

    In the six games she has played this season, she has tallied one goal for the Beauts this season.

    Lexi Bender

    In the seven games she has played this season, she is still looking for her first tally of the year, but has contributed four assists.

    Michelle Picard

    Just recently named to the US Women’s National Team Winter Camp, she has had a good season with the Riveters registering one assist in the nine games she has played this year.

    Shannon Doyle

    The defensemen has had a great year blocking many shots but also tallying two goals on the year. These two goals have come in her last three games including a late game winner against the Riveters.

    Amanda Boulier

    The former Whale defender and a All Star last year has had a great season, tallying three goals and two assists, including a game winning goal against the Riveters on their opening night at Prudential Center.

    Audra Richards

    One of the players selected by the NWHL Fan Vote, this NWHL rookie has tallied six goals on the year in the nine games she has played. She even recorded a hat trick against the Whale. Interesting fact, all six of her goals have all been at home.

    Kendall Coyne Schofield

    The US Olympian has played six games this season for the Whitecaps. She has registered one goal and four assists for five points on the year. The lone goal that she scored was shorthanded.

    Amanda Pelkey

    In the seven games she has played, she has registered two goals and two assists for four points on the year. One of her goals came on the power play.

    Amanda Kessel

    The US Olympian and the better Kessel sibling, has had a great year in her NWHL return. She has one goal on the year but leads the team with six assists and also leads the team with seven points.

    Haley Skarupa

    The Rockville, MD native has had a great start of the year, in the six games she has played, she has tallied three goals and five assists for eight points on the season.

    Katerina Mrazova

    The Czech first year NWHLer has had a great season. She leads the team in goals and points. She has five goals on the season, and has added two assists for seven points. Two of her goals have come on the power play and one of her goals came while her team was shorthanded.

    Madison Packer

    In the nine games she has skated, she has tallied three goals and one assist for four points on the year. Including a two goal performance in the Riveters home opener in the Prudential Center.

    Hayley Scamurra

    She is having an incredible season for the Beauts, she leads the team in goals, assists and points. She has registered five goals and has added seven assists for twelve points on the year.

    Number of Players by Teams

    Boston Pride- 6 Players

    Buffalo Beauts- 8 Players

    Connecticut Whale- 5 Players

    Metropolitan Riveters- 5 Players

    Minnesota Whitecaps- 8 Players
    The All Star weekend will take place in Nashville, TN. The Skills Competition will be done on February 9th and the All Star Game will be on February 10th.

    NWHL Graphics Courtesy of the NWHL. Special Thanks to Chris Botta for permission to use these graphics.