Wheatfield Blades: Welcome
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Blades Win Nationals
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Special to usahockey.com
The Wheatfield Blades are one of the hockey organizations that call the Amherst Pepsi Center their home, and their Womens Senior C team took advantage of that home ice to go unbeaten (6-0-0) and win USA Hockey's National Championship with a 1-0 nail-biter over the Tampa Bay Elite.
Weve been working on this for two years, Wheatfield coach Scott Then said. We worked together two years ago. Craig [Maslona] and I started coaching a womens team in C hockey. We both got experience playing travel hockey all through the USA Hockey program.
Through our experiences coaching and the development that was provided us by USA Hockey, we were allowed the opportunity to be able to bring the girls over and work on this program for two years. Last year, we ended up second in the state. This year, we got to the Nationals.
Wheatfield used the speed of its top line to create numerous breakaways.
We usually are pretty much a fast-break team, so we prefer to get out of our zone fast, break out quick, Then said. On our first line, we have three of our younger players, and they probably are our three fastest and best puck-handlers, so, once they get going, they are difficult to stop.
It was one of those breakaways midway through the first period that created the only goal.
Annemarie Puleo fed Meghan Herald from the sideboards at center ice, springing her on the breakaway. Herald went straight in and fired a wrister past Danielle Faries.
My linemate, she passed it right up to me, Herald said. I just took it and skated as fast as I could. I was thinking this goalie was really good on glove side. Shes a really excellent goalie all through the tournament. I just went low stick side, and it went in.
The play was exactly how assistant coach Maslona likes to plan it: Mainly defense first. When the other team starts to pinch D, well capitalize on our defense into offense.
We beat them once before [4-1 in the first round], Then said. Once we get the first goal, were usually in better shape. That first goal is usually the toughest one to get. Weve got two good goaltenders ourselves. [On Sunday], Vicky stopped everything they threw at her.
Herald had another breakaway with about five minutes left in the game to put it away, but her backhander clanged off the post.
I really was hoping it would go in because I wanted to give our team a little bit of an edge, she said. One goal was not good enough. I was worried they would come back and score a goal.
To get one goal past Faries was a major achievement, as she kept her team in the game with one great save after another, including stopping a few breakaways without the goalposts help. She stopped 17 of the 18 shots she faced.
Keep going, Maslona said when asked what the coaches told their team when they couldnt crack Faries again. Every shot tires out a goalie. Keep shooting. Go for the rebounds. Dont get frustrated. Our goalie stopped everything she faced. As long as we got the lead, thats all that matters.
Vicky Topper did stop everything she saw, giving her 16 saves. Topper ended up with a .974 save percentage for the tournament.
Most importantly, she gave her team the National title on home ice.
Story courtesy Red Line Editorial, Inc.
Wheatfield Blades Women's Senior "B" tryouts.
Saturday July 29th at 7:00 at the Amherst Pepsi Center
$10 tryout fee
Wheatfield Blades Women's Senior "C" tryouts
Saturday August 12th at 7:00 at the Amherst Pepsi Center
$10 tryout fee