Whitecaps Return Home in Weekend Matchup against Riveters
December 13, 2019 - Premier Hockey Federation (PHF)
Minnesota Whitecaps News Release
The Minnesota Whitecaps return home this weekend facing off with the Metropolitan Riveters at TRIA Rink in St. Paul. Game times for this weekend are Saturday at 7 p.m. CT and Sunday at 1 p.m. CT. You can get tickets to the game at https://www.nwhl.zone/tickets or stream the games online at https://www.twitch.tv/nwhl. This will be the second of three meetings the Whitecaps have this season with the Riveters.
After a six-game road trip, the Whitecaps look to get things going for the second half of the season. "We are all so excited to be back home," said Whitecaps forward Nicole Schammel. "We have amazing support from our fans and playing at home is always something we look forward to as a team."
Last season, the Whitecaps were 6-2 in games played at home and haven't had much opportunity yet this season to come out and play in front of a hometown crowd. Jonna Curtis echoed Schammel's sentiment saying, "I think it's much needed after our several road games. [The fans] help bring so much more energy to our team."
The 2019 Isobel Cup Champions are 1-1 this year at home and have a 4-3-1 record overall. The Whitecaps sit third in the league standings, trailing the second place Buffalo Beauts by three points. This weekend the Whitecaps will look to re-establish the home-ice advantage that proved pivotal to their Isobel Cup victory against the visiting Riveters.
"They have a good team with some very skilled players that can score," Curtis said about the Riveters. "We need to give them little time to think and make plays."'
The Riveters are averaging 30 shots per game and have grown accustomed to play on the road, so Minnesota will have their work cut out for them. Curtis, though, isn't worried, "We've had great, high energy practices, working on our defensive zone and scoring. I'm confident we will have some of our best d-zone coverage this weekend."
It will be a tight match-up between the two teams. The last time they met, overtime was required to produce a victor after the Whitecaps crushed the Riveters 9-2 in their home opener. The leaders in Minnesota's locker room feel confident that the team can come away with some big home-ice wins over Girls Hockey Weekend in Minnesota.
ÃÂ "We have the advantage of our fans and need to make sure we give them a good performance," said Curtis.
Premier Hockey Federation Stories from December 13, 2019
- Whitecaps Return Home in Weekend Matchup against Riveters - Minnesota Whitecaps
- Getting to Know Riveters Rookie Cailey Hutchison - Metropolitan Riveters
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