FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 11, 2001

VANCOUVER GRIFFINS BC CHAMPS

NEW WESTMINSTER - The Vancouver Griffins won the BCAHA Senior Female AAA Championship on Sunday, defeating the Richmond Steelers 7-0. Vancouver got off to a quick start when Sherri Pitre scored on the power play one minute into the game. Kelly Stephens, Tamara Pickford, and Julia Berg added goals to put the Griffins up 4-0 by the end of the first frame. Nancy Drolet added another in the second, while her team's blueliners continued to stifle the Richmond offense. Sherri Pitre and Elaine Topolnisky scored in the third to put the game away for Vancouver.

The two teams also played earlier in the day to a 6-2 decision for the Griffins. Vancouver had two power play opportunities in the first period but could not put one past Richmond goaltender Leanne Ross who faced 24 shots in the period. Lindsay Ball did not make the same mistake, and put Richmond up one nothing on her team's first power play of the game.

Despite being down by one and facing a long penalty kill, the Griffins top line connected early in the second; Nancy Drolet set up Sherri Pitre, who blasted a wrist shot top-shelf behind Ross to tie the game up. That same line produced the go-ahead goal for the Griffins early in the third. Kelly Stephens put a hard shot on Ross's blocker, and Nancy Drolet buried the rebound. Natalie Christensen gave the Griffins the insurance goal while on the power play. Sherri Pitre, Danielle Grundy, and Kelly Stephens also added goals for the Griffins. Lindsay Ball scored both of Richmond's goals, both on the power play. Ross stopped 47 of the 53 shots she faced in the match.

The Griffins will represent BC at the Esso Women's National Championships, taking place in Summerside PEI, March 7-11. The Griffins start off the tournament against the team Nancy Drolet won seven National Championships with, Team Quebec. BC has never won a medal at Nationals.

Established in January 2000, the Vancouver Griffins are the newest franchise in the 10-team NWHL, the world's premier women's hockey league. The Griffins compete in the SCFAHL and are playing an exhibition schedule in the NWHL this season. They will begin full interlocking play in the NWHL in 2001-2002. According to CHA statistics, participation in female hockey has grown by more than 400% in the last 10 years, making it among the fastest growing sports in the world.

Game Summary: Vancouver Griffins 6 vs. Richmond Steelers 2
New Westminster- BCAHA Provincial Championships - Semi-final

First Period
1. Richmond, Ball (Raimondi, Fong ) 15:51(pp)
Penalty- Jennifer Fong RCD (interference) 7:16, Chim RCD(tripping) 7:05 Berg VCR (hooking) 14:38, Schmidt VCR (body checking) served by Mcleary 18:32, Schmidt VCR (game misconduct) 18:32

Second Period
2. Vancouver, Pitre (Drolet, Sinow) 1:56 (sh)
Penalties- Sinow VCR (cross-checking) 3:54, Sneyd (bodychecking) 6:12 Chim RCD (holding) 14:01, Drolet VCR (high-sticking) 17:07

Third Period
3. Vancouver, Drolet (Stephens, Pitre) 0:51
4. Vancouver, Christensen (Pickford, Topolnisky) 6:42 (pp)
5. Vancouver, Pitre (Hall) 10:22
6. Vancouver, Grundy (Mcleary, Sinow) 11:33
7. Vancouver, Stephens (Hall, Pickford) 12:17
8. Richmond, Ball (McLellan, Ayearst) 16:44

Penalty- Couture RCD (hitting from behind ), served by J. Fong 4:54, Couture RCD(game misconduct), 4:54 Drolet VCR (unsportsmanlike conduct) 10:16 Sneyd RCD (slashing) 10:16, Chim RCD(roughing) 14:32, Sinow VCR (holding) 14:45, Grundy VCR (elbowing) 15:26, Olson VCR (roughing) 20:00

Shots on goal by Richmond 3 6 3 12 Vancouver 24 10 19 53
Goal (Saves/Shot) - Richmond: Leanne Ross 47/53
Vancouver: Jennifer Price 10/12
Power Plays (goals - chances) -Richmond, 2/8 , Vancouver, 1/7
Referee - Sean Spina Linesmen - Pat Bensmiller, Natasha Lowe
Elizabeth Arden Player Awards:
Richmond Steelers - # 16 Jennifer Fong
Vancouver Griffins #5 Patti Maskall

Game Summary: Vancouver Griffins vs. Richmond Steelers
New Westminster- BCAHA Provincial Championship Final

First Period
1. Vancouver, Pitre (Drolet) 1:00 (pp)
2. Vancouver, Stephens (Drolet, Pitre) 3:54
3. Vancouver, Pickford (Gray, Wong) 5:43
4. Vancouver, Berg ( Hall) 13:01
Penalty - Lash RMD (cross-checking) 0:13

Second Period
5. Vancouver, Drolet (Pitre, Schmidt) 15:07
Penalties- Schmidt VCR (body-checking) 7:24, Ayearst RMD (roughing) 8:29, Grundy VCR (roughing) 11:47

Third Period
6. Vancouver, Pitre (Stephens, Drolet) 5:12
7. Vancouver, Topolnisky (Mcleary, Christensen) 12:15
Penalties - Topolnisky VCR (body-checking) 8:07, Olson VCR (interference) 12:43

Shots on goal by Vancouver 17 10 10 37 Richmond 2 2 4 8
Goal (Saves/Shot) - Richmond: Ross 30/37 Vancouver: Cloutier: 8/8 Power Plays (goals - chances) -Richmond, 0 /4 , Vancouver, 1/2
Referee - Pat Bensmiller: Linesmen - Teresa Anderson, Yannick Harrison Elizabeth Arden Player Awards:
Vancouver Griffins - # 20 Sherri Pitre
Richmond Steelers - # 13 Lindsay Ball

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