Feb 01, 2015 | Chris Larochelle | 1799 views
Orangeville Sweetheart Tournament Champ's!
The New Hamburg Optimist/Stitch Graphix Midget LL team are Gold Medal Champions, after a great weekend of Firewagon Hockey! They would take a 1-1-1 record into the finals on Sunday, playing the heavily favoured Barrie Sharks and would blank them 3-0 to take the Gold medal and call themselves Champions. A great team effort...
was displayed all weekend long.
The Wolverines defeated the home town favourites Orangeville Tigers 3-1 on Friday afternoon with Jess Leiskau taking game MVP honours for her efforts. The Tigers would later claim the Bronze medal to round out their tournament.
The Wolverines second game late Friday night saw the ladies battle the Mississauga Chiefs to a 1-1 come from behind draw on the back of MVP Goaltender Abbey Luckhardt who made several outstanding saves to keep the game close enough for her team to battle back in the final moments for the tie and an important 1 point.
So with three points in the bank the Wolverines took on the undefeated Barrie Sharks in game 3 Saturday night. With a valiant effort, Wilmot kept the game even at one until the final minutes of the third period when Barrie went ahead 2-1. Jillian Chesney continued the stellar goaltending the Wolverines experienced all weekend long and along with some great back checking and defensive play the ladies were able to keep the score close which would prove important. The Wolverines advanced to the Championship game based on a better goal percentage than Mississauga . Alternate Captain Katie Kneisel, who spent the game keeping the speedy Sharks forwards in check would take game three MVP honours.
A date at high noon Sunday brought a re-match against the Sharks, who had lost only three games all season, averaging less than a goal against per game. The Wolverines came out hungry getting on the board first when Kira Larochelle fed Anna Wagler in the slot for a one timer to beat the Sharks goalie and take the lead. An exchange of chances would follow until Alternate Captain Shauna Chesney battling a defender draped on her back, would stuff in another from the slot to give the Wolverines a two goal cushion to finish the second period. The third period saw the Sharks continue to press the play, but the Wolverines played a defensive gem that would only frustrate the Sharks and led to a penalty filled conclusion to the game. The Wolverines were able to hold off the Shark's swarm and would seal the game with an empty net goal by Jess Leiskau. Abbey Luckhardt would share her shutout with the entire team as everyone on the team back checked hard and persevered over the fast skating and equally impressive team of young ladies from Barrie. Alternate Captain Kira Larochelle would take game MVP honours for her tireless efforts while being asked to play both wing and defence in the Championship game. Team Captain Sadie Hammer who led the team with her cool, calm and steady influence throughout the weekend, was selected as the tournament MVP.
In the past six games, the Wolverines carry a 4-1-1 record into their league playoff's which resume this week where they currently sit amongst the leaders in the Midget B Division. A steady and marked improvement in their team game is producing the results the coaching staff is pleased to see.
Let's go Wolverines!