For Immediate Release

April 6, 2014

Deer Lake, Newfoundland & Labrador-   – The Moncton Rockets from Hockey New Brunswick edged the Pro Cresting Penguins from Hockey Nova Scotia by a score of 2-1 to claim the 2014 Atlantic Midget Female Hockey Championship in Deer Lake, NL today. They will now represent the Atlantic Region at the 2014 National Esso Cup, being held in Stoney Creek/Hamilton, Ont. from April 20-26, 2014.

Both teams came out with a great deal of jump in the first period. The Penguins scored first when Taylor Keeping pounced on a loose puck in front of Rockets goaltender Jordan Carrier. Moria Macdonald drew the lone assist.

The Rockets responded in the second to knot the game at a goal a piece with a quick shot from Hayley Hallihan (assists Brooke Murphy and Sarah Bujold).

The third period saw strong goaltending from both teams, which was evident throughout the weekend. The Rockets broke the tie at 6:38 on the power play on a beautiful deflection by Murphy when Lucy Francis faked a shot and made a hard pass for the game winning goal.  Hayley Reid also received an assist on the marker.    The eventual Atlantic champs were able to fight off the pressure from the Penguins to secure the birth in the national championship.  Hayley Reid received the player of the game for the Rockets while Penguins goaltender Claire Warren was player of the game for the Nova Scotia champs.

The King County Kings (PEI)   captured the bronze medal game earlier in the day by defeating by the Central Icepak (NL)  by a score of 3-2 in overtime.

Goal Scorers Kings:            #11 Amanda Gormley, #14 Chloe MacKinnon,

#72 Hope Higginbotham (OT)

Goal Scorers Icepak:           #6 Keesha John, #20 Robyn Rideout

Players of the game:  Kings #72 Hope Higginbotham   / Icepak #2 Sam Dalley

Starting Goalies: Kings #33 Emily Brothers / Icepak# 31 Melissa Mercer