Cooperators Peewees win Southpoint Tournament
The Kincardine Peewee HL girls wouldn't be denied in their third attempt for tournament gold this year.Two previous tournaments produced well earned but heartbreaking silvers-due to a shootout and a second to last minute tiebreaker.
But during the March Break in Leamington,the girls left no room for opponents as they allowed a staggering and measly one goal against 5 games.This didn't translate to easy games,as 3 of 5 could have went either way.In the opener Fri.March 12th versus the home team,a Kelsey Padfield goal in the 1st period held up until Makayla McGregor added insurance with 1:21 remaining.Assists went to Jorie Elliott,Elsie Shewfelt and Mackenzie Nashiem.Game 2 against Chatham,with the well deserved name of outlaws,was a see-saw struggle untill Elliott scored unassisted on a strong rush and shot in the third period.Brooke Storey showed her preseverance by coming back strong from the first of two vicious hits from behind she received in the tournament.Tilbury then continued the chippy nature of the southern teams in another nail biting 1-0 victory for Kincardine.Gracie Stewart was the hero in the third period with Hayley Sorbara setting it up nicely as she came around from behind the net.The girls were superior in their third game Saturday against South Huron .Shewfelt swept one in early from Padfield and Storey.The girls kept up the offence with Eden McFarlane leading the way with a hat trick and assist.McGregor notched her second of the tournament along with an additional assist.Darby Watterworth,Elliott and Nashiem added single assists,completing a 5-1 victory.A new tradition seemed to occur with McFarlane's hat trick as a stuffed teddy bear was thrown to the ice in place of a hat.These 4 victories with 3 shutouts earned the locals first place and a rematch with Southpoint in the Sunday final.The tactics of the southern teams had been no match for Tara Wood's toughness and smart plays on defence,along with those of Watterworth,Elliott,and Storey.Madisyn Johnston's speed from the forward position pinned the opposing teams in their end,or assisted the defence through backchecking.All of the forwards contributed to a strong team defence in front of solid goaltending from Sophia "gumby" Tomaini.Game MVP'S to this point were Padfield,Elliott,Tomaini,and McFarlane.In the finals against Southpoint,Kincardine struck early on a nice rush and finish by Padfield,assisted by Stewart and Watterworth.McFarlane gave the locals a 2-0 lead unassisted directly from the faceoff.The whole team then chipped in to close the door.Southpoint threatened on a power play scramble in the middle of the second period,but couldn't break a fourth shut out,giving Tomaini the game MVP once more.The gold tasted sweet and was worn proudly around many tired bodies.Fan support was sustained and spirited. The girls finished 3 tournaments at 12-2-1 with an incredible 9 shutouts. The most impressive fact is that all but 2 or 3 of these games were highly competitive,with Kincardine usually finding a way to win.Congratulations girls and good luck in the league playoffs.
