It was a bare-bones crew of Wellington North Under-16 Ringers that took to the ice recently against a fully loaded Kitchener squad.
With various girls away with illness or prior commitments, the Ringers knew they were facing a daunting task. They didn't let it bother them, and came out spunky and ready to go in the opening frame pressuring the visitors with hard forechecking. Even when Kitchener scored two quickies the Ringers were unfazed, and Erica Saunders hit paydirt with a nice shot to cut the lead in half.
When Kitchener upped the lead three minutes later, it took less than a minute for Erica's big sister Holly to answer with a hot shot to bring the Ringers closer once again. Goalie Christen O’Donnell shut the opposition down with great saves, and Brandi Grose, Jocelyn McMullen and Genna Wright played heart and soul defence to keep the visitors at bay.
Nicole Burns, Madison Graves and Rhiannon Allen-Roberts gave it everything they had up front and feverishly tried to cut the lead, but there's only so much gas in the tank. The last of the vapour left with about three minutes left, as Kitchener caught fire with a bunch of goals en route to a 7-2 final.
The action was fast and furious in a recent game against Kitchener, and the Ringers jumped out quick with two goals by powerful shooter Danielle Tanner. Strong skating was the key and things were looking good, but the roller coaster took a downward turn as Kitchener picked it up in the second half and grabbed a 6-2 win.
In Hanover to challenge the Heat, the U16 Ringers came out smoking with an absolute beauty. Burns took a nice pass from Ellen McLean and Holly Saunders and made no mistake on a breakaway to bury one in the cage. Nicole then set up Allen-Roberts and her wicked blast bounced off a Heat defender and past the startled goalie.
Hanover caught their breath and began to put on pressure, but O’Donnell sparkled with at least five outstanding saves. Wright then spotted a streaking Graves in the neutral zone, who took the pass and relayed it quickly to Ellen who stretched the Ringer lead to 3-0 with a nice low shot. Hardworking Rhiannon turned dangerous sniper, and her long low shot ripped past the goalie.
Two quick Heat goals propelled them back into the game, but a 5-2 McLean goal temporarily slowed them down. Two minutes later, the Heat responded in the see-saw battle with another strike, but Danielle scored on a nice pass from McMullin. Hanover scored two more to pull within a goal at 6-5, but the relentless Ringers just kept on coming and Ellen soon finished off a hat trick.
The Heat made it 7-6 with three minutes left, but the locals held on as Seifreid, Grose and Saunders were towers of power on defence. O’Donnell stoned the hapless Heat the rest of the way for the hard fought win.