Novice Girls Runners-Up in Stratford Festival Cup Challenge, News, Novice Girls C, Girls Hockey, 2017-2018 (Mitchell Minor Hockey)

This Team is part of the 2017-2018 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Nov 19, 2017 | Trevor Russwurm | 366 views
Novice Girls Runners-Up in Stratford Festival Cup Challenge
The Dodge Caravan Kids Meteor Novice 'B/C' Girls competed in the Stratford Aces Festival Cup Challenge on Nov 17-19th, losing 7-4 in the final game at the Allman Arena to the champion Sarnia Lady Sting 'C' team.

Mitchell opened the scoring midway through the opening period as Abigayle Van Bakel would score unassisted.  Sarnia would tie it up a minute later, and briefly take the lead early in the second period, before Ava Harmer would score unassisted to tie the game again.  Maren Marshall would score the go-ahead go 30 seconds later, but Sarnia would score three unanswered goals in the last three minutes of the second period to take the lead for good.  Van Bakel scored her second of the game early in the third from Marshall, but Sarnia would add two more insurance goals to clinch the victory and championship.
The girls opened tournament play in Seaforth on Friday morning, facing the Kincardine Kinucks.  Marshall opened the scoring from Van Bakel less than a minute into the game, but Kincardine would tie it after one period of play and briefly take the lead early in the second.  The Meteor offense then kicked into high gear with five unanswered goals in the second period.  Zoey Michel scored a pair, Marshall added her second of the game, and singles were notched by Harmer and Van Bakel.  Assists were recorded by Selina Gethke with a pair, Camryn Medhurst, Emma Groenestege, Alayna McKay, and Harmer, who would also add an unassisted insurance goal late in the third.  Marshall was named Player Of The Game.
Game two was at the Dufferin Arena at 12 noon, against St Mary's Rock.  The Novices started off slow, giving up a quick goal less than a minute in, and were down 2-0 after the first.  Like the morning game, they stormed back in the second with four unanswered goals and added three more markers in the third for another 7-2 victory.  Harmer and Van Bakel paced the attack with a hat trick and one assist each, and Medhurst added a single goal and assist.  Additional helpers were recorded by Avery Smith and Groenestege.  Gethke was outstanding in net to earn Player Of The Game.
The coaching staff was unsure what to expect with a third game of the day at 4pm in St Mary's vs Lambeth, but the girls put forth their best effort of the day at both ends of the ice with a convincing 9-0 win.  Medhurst led on the score sheet (2G 2A), and Van Bakel recorded her second hat trick of the day.  Additional goals were scored by Harmer, Smith, Michel, and Gethke.  Ellie MacArthur's shutout in goal earned her Player Of The Game.
Game four of the round robin was Saturday at noon at the Molson pad in Stratford, facing off with the Sting in the undefeated battle for first place.  An exciting see-saw battle ended in a 3-3 tie, and once again the offensive load was carried by Harmer (2G 1A, and Player Of The Game) and Van Bakel (1G 1A).  Marshall and Medhurst also added additional assists.  With the Meteors and Sting both finishing 3-0-1, Mitchell was awarded first place in the pool based on goal-scoring percentage, and a semi-final re-match with St Mary's was set for 7am on Sunday at the Allman.
An early rise greeted the girls on Sunday morning as they faced St Mary's, and Medhurst opened the scoring from Van Bakel in the dying seconds of the first period.  After St Marys tied it up early in the second, Van Bakel would score the go-ahead goal moments later assisted by Macie Russwurm.  The locals would then pull away in the third with three more goals by Harmer, Van Bakel, and Michel to secure the win.  Van Bakel had a total of four points in the strong effort to get to the final game.