The West Shore Bantam Girls began their O Region Playdowns February 21st. At stake was a berth to the OWHA Provincial championships in April. The girls drew the winner of district 29, the South Huron Sabres, for a six point series.
They opened at home playing a conservative first period. The action began to heat up in the 2nd period with a hard screened point shot from Laura Mangotich. Assisting on the play were Erica Gade and Cassidy Colhoun. Just minutes later, Mikhayla Bowes sprung Courtney Surridge who cut back to the high slot to beat the Sabres goalie bar down. The girls capped off this offensive period with another goal, this time from a streaking Madison McFadden going five hole. Assisting on the play was Kristen Derksen. The girls played a tough defensive style in the third with Morgan Baker making the saves when called upon to earn another shut out.
Game Two was on Saturday Feb 27th in South Huron. The small ice surface seemed to hinder Kincardine's creativity. When they did get picks to the net, the Sabres goalie stood tall stopping all chances until late in the third period. With just two minutes remaining, Colhoun took the puck wide around the defence and got off a high rising shot that the Sabres goalie had trouble with. Victoria Krulicki drove hard to the net to pounce on the rebound. Protecting the 1-0 lead, the defence of Parsons, Smith, Mangotich and Gade was excellent. When challenged, Baker made quality saves to preserve the win.
Game Three was again played down in South Huron on Monday March 1st. The Kinucks came out strong, adapting to the small ice surface and chipping pucks past the trapping Sabres squad. Several great chances were thwarted by excellent goaltending from #20 of South Huron who resembled Vladislav Tretiak. Finally, midway through the 2nd period Surridge caught her in the butterfly and zipped a hard wrist shot over her right shoulder to break the ice. That was all the offence the girls could muster and as the third period wore on they began to tire. With just 1:45 to go in the game and under intense pressure, the girls surrendered a rebound goal, thus making the final a 1-1 tie.
Game Four was played at home on Thursday March 4th and the girls came out buzzing, peppering the South Huron goalie but she stood tall. Several times #20 played the puck "Brodeur-like" making outlet passes from crease to red line. The girls kept the pressure on but with 8:38 to go South Huron sustained some pressure in the Kinuck end, finishing with a rebound goal. Three minutes later they scored again to cap the game off 2-0.
Game Five had the girls once again in the small confines of Stephen Township Arena. Despite a great start, South Huron got on the board first with a screened point shot that eluded Baker. Great action at both ends resulted without any scoring. Midway through the third, Colhoun finally solved the Sabres' goaltender on a Kruliki rebound. The girls played great defence the rest of the game to preserve the tie, and more importantly, that elusive 6th point to win the series. With the six points the girls have punched their ticket to Toronto to represent the "O" Region at the 2010 Provincial Tournament April 9, 10 and 11.
Congratulations Girls! G4G!
Written by C. Colhoun
Tweaked by L. Parsons