NAHA Tournament - Game vs. Durham

 

The Steelers finished off the tournament with a 4-0 win over the PWHL Durham Junior Lightning.

Katie Zinn scored a hat trick, with a single to Logan Murray.

NAHA Tournament - Game vs. Nepean

The Pacific Steelers had control of the game taking a 2-1 lead in the second period but could not hold on as Nepean edged the Steelers 3-2.

Scoring for the Steelers were Caitlyn Beauvais off a rebound from a point shot on the power play and Hayley Boyd on a breakaway.

The Steelers play tomorrow at 9:20 AM vs. Durham.

NAHA Tournament - Game vs. Assabet Valley

 

The Pacific Steelers turned out their best effort of the tournament matching the Assabet Valley stride for stride in an exciting high energy game.  After a scoreless first period Assabet found the mark on an unlucky goal off a faceoff.  The Pacific Steelers really showed great compete level and hustle in this game.

With the loss, the Pacific Steelers were relegated to the consolation round where they will play Nepean tonight at 9:30 PM at Cairns 2.

The Steelers finished the round robin as one of the top defensive teams in the tournament, only allowing 3 goals total (including 1 empty net goal).

NAHA Tournament - Game vs. LA Selects

In a battle of the two top teams on the West Coast, the Steelers player the LA Selects, who advanced to the quarterfinals last year.

Jen Gilligan was strong between the pipes, recording her second consecutive shutout of the tournament, as the game ended in a scoreless tie.

In the sudden death shootout, Gilligan turned aside the LA Selects players shot, while Boyd buried her chance on a forehand to back hand deke sliding a shot through the five hole of the LA Selects goaltender.

The Steelers created some good odd-man opportunities through the game, but could not solve the LA Selects goaltender.

NAHA Tournament - Game vs. Spitfires

The Pacific Steelers worked hard, but once again could not seem to find the back of the net falling to the Spitfires 2-1.

After a scoreless first period, the Spitfires scored off a offensive zone faceoff, and then again into an empty net, before Mary Claire Geneau roofed a shot glove hand top corner to make it a one goal game.

The Steelers will need to win both of their games tomorrow to qualify for the quarterfinals.

The Steelers had some good scoring chances including a deflected point shot from Stephanie Mumm. The Eagles-Beauvais-Boyd line was the Steelers most effective line, generating some great chances.

Carly Butcher was excellent in goal for the Steelers.

NAHA Tournament - Game vs. Kitchener

The Pacific Steelers played to a scoreless draw with the Kitchener-Waterloo team.

An evenly played game, with the referees letting both teams play, saw only one penalty called per team.

The Steelers best scoring chance came on a 2 on 1 - with a nice shot by Beauvais after a pass from Eagles.

The Boyd, Beauvais and Eagles line collectively was the best forward line, with Mumm, Uhl, Krause, Kelly Murray, Maddie Muray, and Geneau also having strong games.

Goaltender Jennifer Gilligan had the start for the Steelers and wasn't tested often, but faced a number of high quality chances, including stopping a breakaway late in the game, preserving a tie.

Approximately 25-30 college coaches out at this morning's game.

Thursday in Vermont - NAHA Pre-Tournament

The Pacific Steelers had a one hour practice this morning to shake off the travel legs.  The practice focused on line rushes and flow drills.

Select players then elected to participate in a tour of Dartmouth College, while other players stayed at the hotel to rest, or went on their own unofficial visits of nearby campuses.

 

The Dartmouth College Tour was led by Dartmouth assistant Holley Tyng who showed the players around the impressive Dartmouth Athletic facilities including the Dartmouth Dressing Room pictured above. 

Players also had an opportunity to sit and chat with Mark Hudak, Head Coach of Dartmouth.  Coach Hudak shared with players his thoughts and insight on the college scouting and recruiting process.

NAHA Tournament 2009

And so it begins, another Labor Day Weekend, and another NAHA Labor Day Tournament.

This is the sixth year that the Steelers have brought a team to NAHA tournament. The NAHA tournament remains the staple tournament to attend for players wishing exposure to NCAA coaches, with representation from every NCAA Division 1 program, and majority of Division 3 programs.

This year, NAHA has pared the tournament field down to 16 teams in the U-19 division, and the Steelers, as the only British Columbia based team invited to this event, have put together one all-star team comprised of players from the Steelers 2009-2010 club team, and players from Alberta, BC and Ontario, and will be competing against the top teams in North America.

Over the last two weeks, the Pacific Steelers were on the ice eight times to prepare for this tournament. Its last practice will be today in Burlington, Vermont, where the team will skate at Cairns arena for one hour today. The team will then head down to Ivy League College - Dartmouth College for a tour.

Tournament play starts in earnest on Friday with a morning game against the Kitchener-Waterloo Rangers, and evening game against the Massachusetts Spitfires.

Expectations for this team are high with 13 of the 17 players on the roster having played at the NAHA tournament last year, and the Steelers bringing a more veteran squad this year with only two players in their sophomore years in high school, with the remainder Juniors or older. A balanced three lines of forwards, with a great defence core,and excellent goaltending characterizes this year’s team.

Behind the bench, will be Colleen Thomson. This will be Colleen's fourth time head coaching a team at the NAHA tournament. Assisting Colleen will be Bob Atchison, the Pacific Steelers club team head coach, and Alan Chim, President and General Manager of the Steelers, who has attended all six NAHA tournaments with the Steelers.