Dayton Fangs Women's Ice Hockey

The Team Meeting will be held at 1 p.m. at the Old Country Buffet at 745 Lyons Rd. in Centerville. Please bring pens and notebooks.

The Dayton Fangs traveled west for their second ever women's ice hockey tournament. The Fangs, members of the POWHA, took on the Nashville Pegasus, the Indiana Blades Black and the Indiana Blades White in a summer battle. GAME ONE Arriving early Saturday for an afternoon match against the Nashville Pegasus, the Fangs showed their nerves a bit allowing Nashville's Kellianne Burdorf to score just 42 seconds into the first game. The team settled and didn't allow another one until there were just 17 seconds remaining in the period. The Fangs, too, had their opportunities. Though the biscuit never went in the basic, the Fangs had 15 shots on net, outshooting the Pegasi in the second period 7-6. In the closest shot game in their history, the Fangs were outshot 23-15. The game ended in a 3-0 loss (all goals were scored by Burdorf) for the Fangs, but was clearly their best effort to date. They killed off all penalties. For several players it was their first tournament, for Shannon Bailey who was solid on D it was her first ever women's hockey game. It was the first tournament for Carol Galbraith and Merri Meadows. It was also Carol G.'s first time on Defense. Jill Abromowitz was also able join the Fangs for this match before she leaves for South Korea. The Penalty Kill Unit really clicked as Frangioni and Kertcher not only contributed to the defensive aspect, but also had one of the best scoring opportunities in the tournament. Kertcher and Frangioni broke through and had a 2-0 opportunity. With Kertcher carrying the puck and Frangioni lying available for a pass, the two broke in the zone, all alone. Kertcher, smelling goal, took the shot as Frangioni busted in from the left to grab the rebound. The goalie was there however and quickly covered. The opposing coaches named Tana Frangioni, who had 7 or 8 shots on net, the Offensive MVP of the game. The Fangs coaches named Theresa Boose the Defensive MVP. GAME TWO The Fangs regrouped after a quick run to Applebees for some nourishment and returned to the rink for an early evening game verses the Indiana Blades Black team. The Blades came out fast in the first period, quickly taking a 3-0 lead. The Fangs continued to scamble into the second, but after the 5th goal, the coaches called a timeout to address the issues. Miraculously, it was as if the Fangs were a completely different team. They tightened up in their own end and didn't allow a goal the rest of the game. After being outshot 32-3 in the first two periods, the Fangs stepped up narrowing the gap to just an 8-3 difference in the third. After it was all said and one the Fangs were outshot 40-6. The defense of Shannon Bailey, Patti Rupp-Hunt, Theresa Boose, Heather Gochoel, and Shannon Riffle, really stepped up allowing the forwards to get a few chances at the other end. The Choh, Frangioni and Lapole line got an interesting opportunity with minutes left in the match as a waived off icing gave them a 3-0 in the zone with the goalie out of the net playing the puck. The line rolled into the zone single file, but just as the neared the goalie and saw the fear on her face each forward went in a different direction setting up the best scoring chance of the tournament. The game ended in a 5-0 loss for the Fangs, but this was clearly an excellent game played especially after the timeout. No penalties for the Fangs in this game! The opposing coaches selected Audrey Choh as the Offensive MVP and Theresa Boose was named by the Blades as the Defensive MVP. Special Honorable Mention was given to Merri Meadows, who just last week claimed the Offensive MVP verses Columbus. GAME THREE After a night of fun, the Fangs awoke for a bright and early game, post-denny's breakfast, verses the negative of the previous game. The Indiana Blades, who just the day before had beaten the Nashville Pegasus 4-0, came out firing. Goaltender Heather Gochoel had their number though as she held off the barrage for the first five and a half minutes. The White Blades racked up 17 shots in the first period. Gochoel, playing with an injured shoulder, stopped all but 3. With Gochoel in net and Graham on the bench, Kim LaPole was named Alternate Captain for the game so that the Fangs could have a captain on more than just one line. Once again the Fangs stumbled a bit coming out of the gate, but Midway through the second they shut the door. They were outshot 29-18 in the game, but really turned up the offense outshooting the Blades 8-3 in the final period, leaving the tournament on a strong note. The game ended in a 5-0 loss, but was the official tournament game for Gochoel in net who played a game so strong that no one would have known it was just her second game ever. Her play resulted in her being named the Defensive MVP by the Opposing team. Captain Audrey Choh was picked by the Blades as the Offensive MVP. Special Honorable Mention was given by the Blades to Tana Frangioni. The Blades coach said it was hard to choose between Choh and Frangioni. NOTES: After the coaches appointed new power play and penalty kill units prior to the first game, the Fangs did not allow any Power Play Goals. Only one player, Kim LaPole in game one for unsportsmanlike conduct, took a penalty. The only other penalties were bench minors. They also did not allow any third period goals, showing what they are capable of when settled down. The Fangs were outscored 13-0, but showed a vast improvement over their last tournament where they were outscored 25-0. The Fangs were outshot 92-37. In the March tournament, the Fangs gave up 145 shots over three games. This tournament also had 13 min periods, meaning the Fangs play a total of 9 more game minutes. Game 1's third period was the first time the Fangs ever tied a period. Over the course of this tournament the Fangs tied 3 periods. Post-tournament awards were given to Theresa Boose and Kim LaPole. LaPole received a plaque for her 21 game ironman streak. Boose was awarded the Tournament MVP by the coaches. Both Boose and Choh received 2 Game MVP awards. Gochoel is the first Fangs goaltender to win the award. All the Fangs were given participant medals by the tournament hosts. The tournament was greatly appreciated by the Fangs players. Not only was the geography convienant, the competition good, the organization well done, but there was also everyone's favorite, FREE STUFF. Ann Welch, in her first games back after accepting a new job, was a tank, knocking down any player who dared get in her way. Said Welch after the game, "I didn't hit anyone on purpose." The refs didn't call her for any penalties, so whatever she was doing muct have been right. Sari Hardyal, who recently moved to Columbus to attend OSU, may have played in her last games with the Fangs. She has been with the team since a few months before the first game. We wish her well and thank her for her time, support and efforts. The Fangs had a full coaching staff over the weekend. Head Coach Gary Welch provided, pre and post game instructions and encouragement to the players. Assistants Ralph and Dennis also helped vocally as well as administratively. All three coaches really supported the team. The coaches were forced to make changes on the fly as the injury bug began to creep up. This was Coach Dennis's first tournament with the Fangs. The warm up game scheduled by Coach Gary verses the Columbus Wizards proved to be vital in the transformation of the Fangs. The Fangs had an opportunity to get some jitters from not being on the ice in a while out and get a few players their first game before heading into the tournament. The Fangs next scheduled opponent is a rematch with the Indiana Blades on Saturday, August 26, 2006, at the Kettering Recreation Complex at 6:00.

In a rematch of their first game, the Dayton Fangs traveled to Worthington, Ohio, to take on the Columbus Wizards. Heather Gochoel, making her first start in net, stopped 35 of 43 shots. Gochoel was stellar when handling the puck, controlling all rebounds and stifling the hungry Wizards. Merri Meadows, in her first hockey game ever, came out so strong and so impressed the coach of the other team that he named her our Offensive MVP. The Wizards have affectionately names her #4 Blue Pants. Tana Frangioni made her first start ever in a women's game. Though Frangioni has played many games in co-ed and men's leagues, this was her first opportunity to play when only women were on the ice. The team is happy to have Frangioni out on the ice with us. Not only did she play on an injured ankle, but she made a commitment to being the first defensive forward back to help the D. For Theresa Boose it was her first women's game with the Fangs. Back on D and sharing time with former goalie Marianne Graham and Defensive Game MVP Angie Hendricks, Boose was solid. Carol Galbraith also took to the ice in her first women's only game. She fought hard and provided and excellent outlet on the breakout. Krista Kercher continued her pestering ways giving everything she had on an empty tank. Julie Orenstein sought to show improvement in the game and did so with veracity. The Fangs were outshot 43-10, but the best offensive opportunity came on a third period shot by Shannon Riffle. Shannon's shot had everyone on the bench and on the ice oohing and ahhing as the shot nearly squeaked by the surprised Wizard goaltender. Words alone cannot describe the shot. You just had to be there. The game itself was longer than expected with the teams fighting for the puck for 45 stopped time minutes. The Wizards had the Fangs on their heals in the first with a quick score. But the defense tightened up and Heather Gochoel shut the door for much of the first period. The Fangs came out of it down 3-0. The second period showed a much stronger collective effort on the part of the Fangs. The period was scoreless until a Holding Penalty was taken by Defenseman Marianne Graham that lead to a quick goal by the Wizards. They followed the powerplay goal with another. The Fangs were held scoreless but managed a few opportunities on their own Powerplay in the period. The Fangs were down 6-0 at the end of 2. The third period may have been the best for the team. With scoring opportunities by many of the Fangs including the fantastic shot by Riffle and several opportunities created by Hendricks, the Fangs racked up the majority of their shots. At the other end Gochoel was outstanding. Stopping all but 2 during the period. The final score was a lying 8-0 in the Wizards favor. By the score doesn't tell the truth of the improvement the Fangs have made since they first met the Wizards in February. The cordial teams joined together for a long lunch proceeding the game. NOTES: Missing in action for this game were Captain Audrey Choh who was stricken with illness the night before the game, and Ironman Kim Lapole. Kim LaPole hadn't missed a game since the Fangs played their first game verses the Wizards. This means she played all 14 IBAH games, the first exhibition game, all three tournament games in Indy, the Red v. Gold game at the Nutter, and the three games the Fangs combined with other teams for in the Lucky Stars Tournament in March. That was 21 straight games without an absence! Choh and LaPole returning to the ice as the Fangs head to Columbus, Indiana, next weekend for a tournament facing Nashville and two Indiana Blades Teams.

Our first car wash is confirmed for 27 May from 10 a.m. to 3p.m. Location: Valvoline Instant Oil Change in Beavercreek at the Beaver Square Plaza. At the intersection of Dayton-Xenia Road and North Fairfield Road in Beavercreek next to the Sunoco gas station.

The Dayton Fangs accomplished two great offensive feats on Monday night. First, the scored the the most goals ever score in one game (IBAH or women's) and secondly (and oh so importantly) they had the first ever goal scored by a female member of the team (men's or women's league). The game was much closer than the finally tally reveals. At one point it was just 2-1 in favor of IBAH Team One, later 4-2. Scoring for the Fangs was Ralph from the blueline, Chris Lapole, and Danny Welch. But the goal makign the biggest splash was scored by Angie Hendricks, who now is the leadign scorer for the team. Hendricks would knock down Team One players after scoring her goal as they tried to stop her from entering the offensive zone. Taking the first penalty of her career was Krista Kercher who hooked a player during the game. Greg Frangioni also took a penalty for interference. The final score was 12-4 in favor of the multicolored jersey team.