Jan 20, 2020 | Sportsgate | 390 views
Play Off Berth Secured
Sportsgate HOCKEY:January 20, 2020: Although it was undoubtedly a foregone conclusion after the way they accumulated points during the first two-thirds of their Provincial Women's Hockey League schedule, the Kingston Jr's put the official stamp on a playoff berth on Sunday afternoon.
With a 6-0 win over the last-place Leaside Jr. Wildcats, the Ice Wolves, who sit tied for second among the league's 20 teams with the Toronto Aeros, can not be caught by any of the four teams currently outside the playoffs. After a scoreless first period on Sunday, Megan Breen scored what proved to be the game-winning goal 10:33 into the second. The JR's cemented the victory with five third-period goals, including three into an empty net in the final 1:34 — two while playing short-handed and one while enjoying a power play.Kiara Zanon scored twice for the Ice Wolves, with Haylie Kirkpatrick, Alexa Pongo and Tatum White netting the others. One of Zanon's goals and Pongo's marker were short-handed, extending the franchise single-season record to 14.Zanon continues to lead the league in scoring and is closing in on the 50-point mark. She has 49 points (26G, 23A), with her goal and point totals being club single-season records.Goaltender Anna Phillips, a pickup from the Greater Kingston Ice Wolves AA midgets, recorded the shutout in her first PWHL appearance, making 19 saves.On Saturday in Ajax, Zanon snapped a 1-1 tie with a goal with only 3:13 remaining in the third period and then added an empty-net goal with 21 seconds left to give the Ice Wolves their 3-1 win. Amelia Van Vliet made 27 saves to pick up the goaltending win.