Apr 04, 2017 | Andrew Medhurst | 1278 views
The Cherry on Top of a Sundae of a Season
Tuesday night in Komoka the Perth County Chrysler Dodge Caravan Kids Novice C girls completed a very successful season as they defeated the Ilderton Jets, to claim the WOGHL Division 1 Novice Girls championship. After taking game 1 on the road, the girls had the chance last Sunday to win the title on home ice, however were unable to close out the pesky Jets. It took one more road trip to have these road warriors win yet another game wearing their black jerseys and claim the title on visitors ice!
After a lengthy lay off waiting for the Jets to get the series rolling, the girls hit the ice last Monday, in game 1 on the road in Ilderton. After falling behind early in the game, the Meteors struck twice on goals by Danielle Harmer and Ashley McLeod. Kara Rolph and Ava Harmer picked up first period assists. After the Jets tied the game early in the second, Rolph scored 7 seconds after, to regain the lead. McLeod would then pick up her second goal of the game half way through the third to add the insurance marker. The team defence would tighten up after that and the girls would cruise to a 4-2 victory in game 1.
Sunday had the Jets soar into Mitchell for game 2. The pulse in the building was palpable as the Meteors knew with a victory they would be crowned champs here on home ice. The girls looked great in warm up as the tunes blared throughout the arena getting both the teams and crowd ready for another battle between these evenly matched juggernauts. Both teams felt each other out in the early going of the game and it remained scoreless until 4:39 of the first period, when Zoey Michel would bring the crowd to their feet, as she received a beautiful pass off the half board from A. Harmer, and buried it off the inside of the post. Rolph would also pick up an assist on the goal. The lead would be short lived as the Jets would score shortly after, and the first period would end up tied at 1. The second period brought with it some back and forth action that had the goalies on their toes, as they each made several great saves (Grace Kipfer must have been taking notes after watching her father play in the charity game the previous night. It should be noted that he just got the toe of his skate on the first penalty shot he faced that game). Ilderton would get the next goal at the 4:16 mark of the second. The Meteors went into the third down by one. Mitchell would be awarded a couple of power plays in the third, however a hard working Jet penalty kill would not allow the Meteors to tie the game up. The Jets would add an empty netter and force a third and deciding game back in Komoka.
Tuesday April 4th would be the date of the winner take all game. The Meteors would again headed southwest, this time the beautiful confines of the Komoka Wellness Center. From the drop of the puck the Meteors showed they had came to play. This could be contributed to the great warm up that our Trainer Joanne has provided all season, and the motivational speech of coach Rolph and his staff just before the girls took to the ice. It only took 1:03 seconds for Ava Harmer to score the first goal of the game, with Ashley McLeod picking up the assist. Both teams would again battle hard for the rest of the period and the Meteors headed into the first intermission up by 1. Mitchell would again strike early in the second as A. Harmer hammered home her second goal of the game, and proved she was as clutch as a certain Mitchell Hawk's captain of the late 1980's (or possible early 1990's, back when hair band rock filled arena dressing rooms!). McLeod would add the assist on the second goal as well, as the sniper turned play maker for the final game of the season. Grace Kipfer and the defence corp of Rylee Kipfer, Alyssa Insley, Jessie Horan and Heather Ogilvie would hold off the Jets the rest of the way, and fittingly so, G. Kipfer would end the season shutting out her opponents out, as she has done countless times this season. As the final seconds would tick off the clock, the smiles on the players faces grew and at the sound of the final buzzer they mobbed their goalie for the final time this season, this time as WOGHL CHAMPIONS!!!
The parents of the players would like to thank the coaching staff of this magnificent team for all the time and hard work that you have put in this season. It really showed with these young girls, as they were always eager to get to the rink, get into their gear and hit the ice, whether it be for a practice or a game. You have taught them a lot about the game, and more importantly how to be a great team player and love the game of hockey. This team was an absolute joy to watch and write about all season. Thank you.