Plymouth-Canton-Salem Penguins

The Plymouth-Canton-Salem girls hockey continued its sizzling start Tuesday when it blanked Walled Lake, 5-0, in a Michigan Girls High School Hockey League showdown at the Arctic Edge.

Sophomore goalie Cortny McAdoo was brilliant between the pipes, turning away everything Walled Lake fired at her.

PCS, which improved to 2-0, led 2-0 after one period thanks to goals from Amanda Heisler (from Alissa Novak) and Sarah Coleman, who scored unassisted.

The Penguins exploded for a trio of third-period lamp-lighters to put the game away. Jennifer Fedon ignited the barrage with a goal from Ellexus Montoya and Tory Campbell at the 11:43 mark.

Six minutes later, Novak scored to make it 4-0. She was assisted by McAdoo.

Novak capped the scoring with 1:28 left off assists from Heisler and Emily Bullock.

But losing Jordyn Moore, Kara Bongiovanni and Shauna Siebert isn't expected to ice the Plymouth-Canton-Salem Penguins in 2010-11.

In fact, the Penguins routed the Bloomfield Knighthawks in their season opener Tuesday at Canton Arctic Edge.

Although the Penguins tallied 13 goals (12 in the first period), the official final was 8-0 due to the mercy rule, said head coach Mary Beth Johnson.

“This game gave us the chance to work out the kinks and see where we are and were we need to be,” Johnson said. “ It was a great start to the season but we have a lot of work to do.”

Defense and goaltending probably will be the team's main strengths despite the offensive explosion in the Michigan Metro Girls High School Hockey League tilt.

Senior defensemen and third-year captain Sarah Coleman and Rhianna Fleisher are two of the top returnees from the PCS team that made it to the Division 1 quarterfinal in March before losing to Cranbrook Kingswood.

IT STARTS WITH DEFENSE

Coleman scored the opening goal Tuesday to jump-start the big victory.

“I believe our defense will be our quarterbacks of the team again this year,” Johnson said. “We have a lot of talent on defense who will not only create scoring opportunities but greatly reduce the amount of shots on net.”

She cited Coleman for “bringing a lot to the table. This will be her third year as a captain and will do an excellent job leading the team on and off the ice.”

Another key blueliners to watch out for include senior Alissa Novak and junior Emily Bullock.

They will have returning sophomore goaltender Cortny McAdoo behind them and that should be very comforting considering how well McAdoo played in 2009-10.

In the D2 playoff final, McAdoo made 25 saves to blank regular season champion Port Huron.

Backing up McAdoo will be freshman Elena Bongiovanni. The two goalies each saw some playing time on Tuesday.

The other freshman on the roster is forward Jenna Carter, and she didn't waste any time making an impact. She scored the Penguins' sixth goal of the game and added an assist.

(Carter had another assist later on, but Johnson said statistics for goals 9-13 in the mercy will not count in the record book.)

Sophomore forward Beth Johnson, meanwhile, is another promising youngster and she scored twice against the Knighthawks.

Vets up front include seniors Marissa Sullivan (a captain), Becca Majszak, Tory Campbell, Jenny Fedon, Amanda Heisler and junior Ellexus Montoya.

“I think Jenny Fedon, Marissa Sullivan and Amanda Heisler are forwards who will produce up front for us,” the second-year coach noted.

Meanwhile, helping her behind the bench will be assistants Brad Johnson and newcomer Emily Nelson.

The latter currently plays for the University of Michigan women's Division 1 club team.

  The Plymouth-Canton-Salem girls hockey team opened its season in convincing fashion Tuesday, thumping the Bloomfield Knight Hawks, 8-0, at Arctic Edge Arena in Canton.

  The Penguins struck early and often, lighting up the scoreboard 29 seconds in on a Sarah Coleman goal that was assisted by Jenny Fedon and Rhianna Fleisher.

  Seven minutes later, the Penguins had accumulated eight goals.

  "After we hit the eight-goal mark in the first period, we started to move the puck around and worked on our systems," said PCS coach Mary Beth Johnson. "This game gave us the chance to work out the kinks and see where we are and where we need to be.

  "It was a great start to the season, but we have a lot of work to do."

  Cortny McAdoo earned the victory between the pipes for the Penguins, stopping the only shot she faced.

  Emily Bullock and Beth Johnson both finished with a pair of goals for the winners. Jennifer Fedon, Amanda Heisler and Jenna Carter scored single goals for the Penguins.

  Bullock, Rebecca Majszak and Marissa Sullivan all contributed two assists to the winning cause.

  Freshman goalie Elena Bongiovanni also tended the goal and stopped her only shot.

  The Penguins return to action Tuesday when they host Walled Lake at 6:30 p.m. at the Arctic Edge.
 

  The Plymouth-Canton-Salem girls hockey team opened its season in convincing fashion Tuesday, thumping the Bloomfield Knight Hawks, 8-0, at Arctic Edge Arena in Canton.

  The Penguins struck early and often, lighting up the scoreboard 29 seconds in on a Sarah Coleman goal that was assisted by Jenny Fedon and Rhianna Fleisher.

  Seven minutes later, the Penguins had accumulated eight goals.

  "After we hit the eight-goal mark in the first period, we started to move the puck around and worked on our systems," said PCS coach Mary Beth Johnson. "This game gave us the chance to work out the kinks and see where we are and where we need to be.

  "It was a great start to the season, but we have a lot of work to do."

  Cortny McAdoo earned the victory between the pipes for the Penguins, stopping the only shot she faced.

  Emily Bullock and Beth Johnson both finished with a pair of goals for the winners. Jennifer Fedon, Amanda Heisler and Jenna Carter scored single goals for the Penguins.

  Bullock, Rebecca Majszak and Marissa Sullivan all contributed two assists to the winning cause.

  Freshman goalie Elena Bongiovanni also tended the goal and stopped her only shot.

  The Penguins return to action Tuesday when they host Walled Lake at 6:30 p.m. at the Arctic Edge.