Capitals bitten by injury, flu bug

Posted By Laura Shantora Nelles, Central Plains Herald-Leader

Posted 16 days ago

Eric MacKenzie/Central Plains Herald-Leader ...Natasha Kostenko of the Central Plains Capitals is in Surrey, B.C., representing Manitoba at the national under-18 championships.

The Central Plains Midget AAA Capitals girls had a gruelling game Oct. 30 against defending league champions Pembina Valley Hawks with only 12 skaters in the lineup, dropping the match 7-3.

The Caps were missing their top three blueliners for the contest, Lindsay Blight, Shaye Nelissen and Jennifer Bell. Stephanie Fehr was also playing with an injury. Blight skated this week and Nelissen is nursing a hamstring injury but Fehr has strained ankle ligaments.

"It's tough to play that way," said Capitals coach Ferdi Nelissen. "We had pushed two forwards back, but our D were going out every second shift."

To add to the Caps' woes, Jillene Rodgers went down with an injury during the game. "She's severely concussed," said the coach, adding Rodgers will be out four to five weeks. "She was slammed to the ice."

The team's demise came in the third period when "we ran out of gas," said Nelissen. "The girls were tired and making mental mistakes that were leading to scoring chances. The girls were starting to lose their legs and they weren't fresh. We were pushing our D out the door every other shift so they couldn't get that extra rest, which we like to give them at this level."

The Portage bantam team had a game that day, so there were no available troops to call up. "We had nobody we could AP, nobody to call up. Their numbers aren't that high that the bantams could send us players if they have a game, and I wouldn't even ask."

Jenna Cyrenne, Taylor McVannel and Courtney Nichol notched the goals for the Caps.

The game scheduled for Nov. 1 against the Yellowhead Chiefs has been postponed to a later date (possibly scheduled for Remembrance Day) due to more players on the Capitals unable to play.

"We had some girls get the flu, so with that and the injuries we were decimated. I think we're going to see some stuff this winter that we don't see every winter. Everyone has got H1N1 in their head, and we don't want to spread anything. Hopefully, it doesn't get as bad as it could or might, but everybody is trying to take the right precautions. Neepawa (Natives Junior A) just had to reschedule a (Manitoba Junior Hockey League) game because they got guys out with the flu. It is what it is, and we need to take the correct protocol. We have messages coming from Hockey Canada about making sure kids have their own water bottles and towels and all that. It's about being safe," said Nelissen.

Representing Manitoba

In other Central Plains Capital news, Caps forward Natasha Kostenko flew out this week to British Columbia where she is representing Manitoba at the national under-18 championships.

Nelissen's daughter Shaye was an alternate for the team, but didn't get the call despite one of the team's blueliner's going down with an injury.

Kostenko will be representing the Central Plains region, however, and her coach said, "Hopefully, Natasha will have a good week. Manitoba has done well in the past at these events. They won a silver at the Canada Games three years ago, and won bronze the last two years at under-18 nationals."

Nelissen was pleased to have a player representing the Central Plains team, which is only in its second year of existence.

"It's very exciting to have Natasha go. It's very good for our program. Kids are coming up through and they're wondering should I go to Balmoral (Hall) or what should I do, and if you're good, and you're able to compete, you'll get found."

Nelissen said he is confident in the players moving up through the ranks and hopes to have more players moving through the Hockey Canada Program of Excellence.

"Our core group of '93s we have this year is very good. Natasha still has another year of POE, and our '93s we have right now, as they get bigger and stronger will only get better. Our two goaltenders are good, too. We have some skilled kids, and if they work hard and be confident that they can play this way, they can. I'm confident the next two years will be very strong."

Team Manitoba defeated Team Quebec in its first game of the tournament on Wednesday by a score of 2-1. Quebec is the defending silver medalist and put up a powerplay goal in the first as Team Manitoba took five penalties in the opening frame. Manitoba tied things up late in the period and got the game winner mid-way through the second.

Manitoba played again Thursday afternoon against Alberta and Friday against B.C. Scores were not available at press time.

Depending how they do, the semi-finals take place Saturday, and the gold medal game will be shown Sunday on TSN2 at 3:30 p.m. Pacific time.

To see how Natasha and the rest of Team Manitoba are doing, visit www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/63724/la_id/1.htm

sports@cpheraldleader.com