The Sunlife-Paul VanGerwen
Atom girls had an awesome weekend at the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association
(OWHA) tournament in Mississauga. They
earned the bronze medal and the bragging rights of being the third best Atom C
team in Ontario. Recording four wins, a
tie and one loss in six games.
The girls were seeded in a tough round robin pool to start the tournament with games against TCDMHA, Windsor and Sudbury.
Early Friday morning would be the start to our fantastic weekend at the Iceland Arena. Our first challenge in our quest for a medal would be against rivals TCDMHA Rebels. We had only met this team once before and beat them in the championship game just a couple of months ago in a previous tournament. Intense play started right from puck drop with us scoring the only goal of the game within the first 44 seconds of play. Emma French scored with the Erica Pletch earning the assist. The remainder of the game would be back and forth play but neither goalie was willing to budge. Buzzer would sound, winning the game 1-0 over the eventual gold medalist and Makayla Beuerman earning another shutout in net. Later Friday afternoon, we were keen for our next match, the Windsor Wildcats. Erica Pletch opened the scoring first with help from line mate Emma French. Windsor was able to square the score but Erica Pletch was there again to knock that little black disk behind their goalie to regain the lead going into the second period. Second period wasn't our period as Windsor was able to beat out our goalie once again to tie the game at 2 to make the third period be the deciding factor. Once again the red hot stick of Erica Pletch would get her well deserved hat trick of the day. As time was winding down and just a 1 goal lead our girls just ran out of steam and would surrender the tying goal with 25 seconds left in the game for a 3-3 deadlock.
Not to be outdone, our gritty Meteors started strong Saturday morning with a 3-1 win over the Sudbury Lady Wolves to end round robin play and a playoff date in quarter final action later that afternoon. Emma French and Taya Cornish would each add unassisted markers in the first period to give us the 2-0. Second period would prove nothing and would set the tone for the third and final period. Brooklyn Gethke would score to essentially seal the win but with clock almost out of time Makayla Beuerman’s shutout bid was ruined when the refs awarded Sudbury with a questionable goal with 1 second left on the clock.
Quarter final afternoon was here and the one team we really didn't want to play this weekend was our familiar foe and league rivals the Lambeth Lancers. But guess what? Lambeth it would be and winner would move on to the Semi Finals and Finals on Sunday. As the team's got set to start the game and everyone on the edge of the seats, the clock started its count down in this do or dies game. First period would settle nothing as the scoreboard showed 0. With a quick break and a pep talk from the bench staff our girls were ready to go, the refs were ready to start the second and did exactly that. With players scrambling to try and get something going and to score the most important first goal, Alyssa Edit would do just that with Jaimie Badley and Jaelyn Mienen giving her that chance. Lambeth would answer right back to tie the game but Brooklyn Gethke would score with just a few minutes left in this period to regain our momentum and the 1 goal lead to set up and exciting final period in this barn burner. As all the spectators took a deep breath and their places to watch and cheer for their team, the third period was well on its way. With just a slim 1 goal lead and the clock running what we thought was so slow, Lambeth was giving it all they had to prove themselves after their loss in the WOGHL Championship. The scoreboard showed 2-1 and the clock at 0:00, our mighty Meteors had done it again eliminating Lambeth in a key game and moved us into the Semi Final to decide what colour of medal we would be playing for in the finals. Way to go girls- you’re going to the finals!!
Semi Final Sunday was here and we would need to get pass a strong Mt Forest team to play for gold. The first period we gave our opponents the 2 goal lead and they kept the lead to add one more in the third but with the girls digging deep, Brooklyn Gethke would end the Mt Forest shutout scoring from the solid passing of Erica Pletch. Our girls continued to press on but just came on to late in the game for the win. Final score was 3-1 giving our Meteors a date in the Bronze medal game against Russell Castor (Ottawa area).
Bronze medal game was set. One o’clock was finally here and our Meteors were pumped and ready to get this show started. With a bunch of nervous fans from both teams to watch what would be such an exciting game right to the end! We started this game a bit slow and sluggish and trailed once again at the end of the first period 2-0. But the girl’s gritty true form came a live half way during the second period from a solid shot on net and goal from Taya Cornish and Emma French would score to tie the game at 2. Yeah, Way to go girls!! Second period ended and the third period could be anyone's game. With momentum in our favor and the roar “Go Mitchell Go” from our cheerleading section, we knew the girls had it in them to finish this game and win. Plays were back and forth throughout this period for both teams but each goalie was trying to prove why they were the best being solid as rocks. With time running down on the clock, Emma French would break the tie with the go ahead goal from Ava Gibbings. After the small celebration on the ice, we faced off again at centre to see what would happen next, passing, shooting and time outs called for both teams to set up the all important play. With the end in sight and just a small advantage for us, Russell Castor pulled their goalie to get that all important extra attacker on the ice to even the score but the determination in our girl’s eyes gave them the opportunities they needed to clear that pesky puck out of our end. After a couple close empty net shots but would end in an icing call, our entourage of players made their way up the ice with Emma French leading the pack and score on the empty net, Mitchell fans were on their feet and cheering as we had just sealed the bronze medal victory with a 2 goal lead with just 35 seconds left on the clock.
Yet again another face off at centre but all the girls wanted to do was tie up their players and watch the clock count down from ten, nine, eight as they crowd counted with the clock and the buzzer sounded and we won, the bronze medal! What a game as parents, family members and coaches could finally take a deep breath of relief, our Mitchell Meteors had done what they set out to do at the beginning of this tournament, bring home a medal.
Congratulations girls! You all have had such an amazing year. You have certainly shown what Mitchell Girl’s hockey is all about. You are the Champions of our Mitchell Tournament, Pink on the Rick, WOGHL and now the 3rd best team in all Atom C girls hockey in Ontario.
Team members are: Taya Cornish, Erica Pletch, Charlee Feltz, Jaelyn Meinen, Alyssa Edit, Brooklyn Gethke, Emma French, Makayla Beuerman, Brett Gethke, Ava Gibbings, Emily Dearing, Meg Schoonderwoerd and Jaimie Badley.
Coach Staff: Jamie Gethke, Jamie Gibbings, Dawn Pletch and JoAnne Horan.