This past weekend (Oct 24 & 25, 2009) the Rob Marchand Construction Atom B Rep girls hockey team saw action both Saturday at home against the Orangeville Tigers and Sunday when they travelled to Mississauga to take on the Chiefs.

On Saturday the girls found themselves in a close game with a very experienced Tiger squad. With many chances at both ends of the rink, solid goaltending from Michelle DeRosie of the North Simcoe Capitals kept the game at a 0-0 tie after the first period and a half. It wasn't until late in the 2nd period when the tie was broken by the Orangeville side.

With this momentum the Tigers were able to add another marker to increase their lead to 2-0. After the second goal the home town Capitals seen to dig in deeper and turn the momentum back in their favour. Late in the third period the North Simcoe team jumped on a loose puck and defence Abby Dusome broke free and scored to bring the Capitals back to within 1 goal, with Rachel Hierholzer and Amy Weyman drawing assists.

This seem to really get the girls motivated, within two minutes the Capitals struck again with their second goal to tie the score at 2-2. On passes form Amy Weyman and Brianne Lesperance, Abby Dusome got off a shot from the point that found the back of the net. A great effort from the North Simcoe girls seemed to be the answer to get their first point of the year.

On Sunday in Mississauga the girls got off to a much faster start scoring their first off 2 goals within the first 6 minutes of the game. After a Mississauga turnover deep in the North Simcoe end, Abby Dusome was able to catch the Mississauga team off guard and notch the Capitals first goal.

This game was another back and forth affair with multiple chances by the North Simcoe girls. Excellent back checking, and defensive zone support from the North Simcoe forwards did not allow Mississauga many good chances to score.

It wasn't until late in the 2nd period when center Melanie Phillips drove to the net to follow up on her own rebound, did the Capitals increase their lead to 2-0. This concluded the scoring but not the intense action, for the remainder of the game.

The North Simcoe coaches were very pleased to get the 3 out of 4 points this weekend and start off the season on a positive note.

Members of the team are: Michelle DeRosie, Brianne Lesperance, Rachel Hierholzer, Abby Dusome, Melanie Phillips, Emily Chamberlain, Aislin Wood, Lauren Dabrowski, Abigail Hounsome, Lauryn Marchand, Tayler Yorke, Amy Weyman, Kylie Quesnelle.

The North Simcoe Capitals fought their way to an exciting win in the Clarington Applefest hockey tournament, but it wasn't easy.

The Capitals got off to a rocky start with a 2-0 loss in their opening game against the home town Clarington Flames. In game two, the Capitals faced a strong team from London but came out ahead with a 2-1 victory.

With a must win situation in game 3 against the Oakville Hornets, the Capitals blasted out to a 2-1 lead with goals from Rachel Handy and Heather Kelly. Late in the third period the Hornets pulled their goalie in an attempt to tie, but the Capitals held on and Heather Kelly scored her second of the game into an empty net to solidify the 3-1 victory sending them into the semi finals on Sunday.

The Capitals took on the undefeated Sudbury Lady Wolves in their Sunday morning semi finals. The Wolves got out to an early 1-0 lead until Tiffany White scored her first goal of the season to tie it up. The Wolves went up a goal in the third period and held a 2-1 lead until late in the Third. With time running out the injury plagued Capitals pulled their goalie (Robyn Peddle). In the dying seconds of regulation, Rachel Handy potted the tying goal to send the game into overtime. Half way through the overtime period, Marena Phillips made a nice outlet pass to Handy who passed it to Emily Marchand as she was breaking out of the zone. Emily made an excellent pass across ice to Heather Kelly on the wing who went in on a breakaway to lift one past the Sudbury goalie for the win.

The finals proved just as exciting pitting the Capitals against the Clarington Flames who had handed the capitals their only loss earlier in the tourney. The teams skated to a 1-1 tie at the end of regulation. In overtime the teams traded excellent scoring opportunities with both goalies, including the Capital's Robyn Peddle, coming up big for their respective teams. Nothing was solved in the overtime so the game would be decided by a sudden death shoot out. Rachel Handy scored the team's first shoot out goal but her opponent also scored so her goal was nullified. Again, both goalies were outstanding in the shootout stopping 5 out of the first 6 shooters. Peddle also stopped the 7th Flames shooter while the Capitals' Emily Richardson lifted one above the glove of the Flames goalie for the game and tournament win.

The team is coached by Bill Richardson, Pat Kelly and Ron Phillips along with trainers Suzanne Richardson, Kory Phillips and team manager Lisa Weyman. Team members include Robyn Peddle, Marena Phillips, Olivia Secord, Simone Smith, Megan Hamelin, Emily Marchand, Rachel Handy, Heather Kelly, Emily Richardson, Emily Weyman, Chanelle Proulx, Emily Dampier, Tori Chamberlain, and Tiffany White.

The North Simcoe Investors Group peewee B Capitals may have lost the championship game, but it was a thrilling match none of the players will forget. The final of the North Simcoe Girls Hockey Tournament, held Oct. 2-4 in Midland, came down to the Capitals versus Niagara Falls.

Regulation time ended with the game tied 0-0. The two teams exchanged scoring opportunities during a sudden death, four-on-four period, and then played three-on-three for a dozen two-minute periods.

With only seconds left in the 13th overtime period, Niagara Falls scored to win the gold medal.

The Capitals played three round-robin games to open the tournament, and then beat Mount Brydges in the semifinal to advance to the championship game. Coached by Pat Kelly, the team members include Channelle Proulx, Marena Phillips, Olivia Secord, Simone Smith, Emily Dampier, Emily Richardson, Heather Kelly, Tiffany White, Rachel Handy, Emily Weyman, Robyn Peddle, Megan O'Rourke, Emily Marchand and Tori Chamberlain.

Rob Marchand Construction NSGHA Atoms take Silver at Orillia Hawk Rep Tournament January 9-11, 2009

Rob Marchand Construction NSGHA Atoms take Gold at 9th Annual NSGHA Tournament on January 4th, 2009