The tournament committee and an army of volunteers once again did an exemplary job, hosting a full slate of games at Mount Forest and District Sports Complex from Thursday to Sunday, plus a run of Friday games in Arthur. Featuring action at the Atom C, Pee Wee C, Midget Local and Midget C levels, the majority of the games were close and competitive.
“It’s just an excellent, well run tournament” said Midget Local League Coach Garnet Troyer following the gold medal victory. “It always has been, and it just keeps getting better.
MIDGET?LOCALS?WIN?GOLD
Providing the most exciting game and thrilling decision of the tournament, the Mount Forest Midget Local League Girls led Clearview 1-0 for much of their championship final, before the visitors scored a late goal that forced overtime.Ultimately, the game went to a shootout to decide a victor, with Mount Forest making use of every shooter on its short bench en route to the gold medal nailbiter victory.
“Going down to the last shooter; that’s what you call a total team effort,” said Coach Garn Troyer. “Half of this team are bantams. They really dug down and just played terrific all weekend. In any of the games I?could have put names in a hat, pulled one, and called her an MVP. I am so proud of them.”
The win was an emotional one for many of the girls, especially Lizzie Gerrie, who is playing her first year of hockey and scored her first ever goal in the marathon shootout.
“Lizzie was amazing and she scored for me,” said teammate Mikayla Watson. “I?was ecstatic, and she cried.”
“We were all to the point of crying,”?added forward Tatiana Felsbourg.
“We were all blown away,” she added. “It was a really good tournament, especially for girls, and for us to have our own tournament is pretty awesome.”
The gold mine began for Mount Forest when they doubled Normanby 2-1 in a defensive duel. Captain Danielle Grotenhuis scored both Rams goals, thanks to assists from Jenna Yake, Amber Duncan and Lauren Oakes. Courtney Hawksworth scored the lone goal for the Ayton contingent.
Game two brought Mount Forest a 3-0 shutout over Upper Maitland. Amber Duncan and Grotenhuis led the offense with a goal and assist each, Felsbourg potted a goal, and Yake finished her game with two assists.
Clearview then nipped the girls 3-1 to set up the final game, as Carly McQueen scored from Felsbourg for Mount Forest.
ATOMS WIN?SILVER MEDALS
Mount Forest’s Atom Girls hit the ice for the first of the four championship games, coming up just short with a valiant effort and 3-1 final vs. Blyth/Brussels.The locals kept it exciting right until the final whistle, with a late goal waved off and MVP?goaltender Marissa Cottingham waved to the bench for an added offensive thrust. Gillian Vandermeer scored the lone goal for the home side.
“The girls just played awesome, tremendous hockey this weekend,”?Atom Girls Head Coach Dale Eccles proudly said of his team after the final.
The Atoms road to the medal round began with a 3-2 victory over TCDMHA, thanks to two goals from Danielle Gordon, and a third from Samantha Gans. Natalee Dietz earned two assists, plus single help
