Friday March 19th saw our Bantam Girls participating in their last tournament leading up to the Provincial tournament in April. To test the girls, the coaching staff elected to put them up a division to BB. Meeting five new teams over the weekend, the girls started off with the tournament hosts from North York. This game started slowly with some rust evident from the Kinucks. However, early in the 2nd Mikhayla Bowes broke the ice with a nice goal from Victoria Krulicki and Jordan Murchie. North York answered early in the 3rd by banging in a rebound. This was followed by a great effort from Erica Gade on a strong pinch eliminating her man and firing a hard point shot to the net. Cassidy Colhoun turned that effort into the go ahead goal. Three minutes later Madison McFadden got Courtney Surridge into the mix on a great feed from behind the net, making the final 3-1 Kinucks. Game MVP Erica Gade.
Game Two on Friday had the girls face off with the Vaughan Flames. The girls looked very polished in this one right from the start. Within a span of 2:09 the girls scored an amazing four goals, all TSN "highlight of the night" worthy. Surridge got the party started from Derksen and Murchie, followed by Bowes from Krulicki. Dakota Smith wired one from the point on a turnover. Krulicki finished off the barrage with a neutral zone turnover manufactured into a breakaway beating a bewildered Flames goaltender stickside. A rough and tumble third period saw the Kinucks take 12 minutes in penalties, leaving room for just one more goal short-handed of course, Krulicki from Gade. Final score 5-1 Kinucks. MVP Vicky Krulicki.
Game three on Sat morning saw a good team from Aurora pitted against the surging Kinucks. The girls dominated play in the first period with a great forecheck and cycle game. The Panthers goaltender was up to the task turning away several great scoring chances. Midway thru the 2nd the Kinucks were guilty of a poor line change that resulted in a breakaway for Aurora. Morgan Baker came up with a great save which inspired her team mates who scored on the very next shift. Surridge made no mistake on a great feed from Murchie, worked into the corner from a pinching Vanessa Hodgins. Great defense and strong goaltending was the story for the rest of this game which ended 1-0 Kinucks. MVP Morgan Baker.
Game four on Sat night was played against the Brampton Canadettes. The girls got to work quickly, scoring two goals in the first period. Krulicki one timed a nice pass from Colhoun from behind the net. These two hooked up again on their very next shift with Krulicki sniping from Colhoun and Hodgins. The Canadettes answered late in the first on a rebound. Midway through the 2nd Colhoun restored the two goal lead, driving to the net on a Smith forced rebound chance. Brampton scored one minute later to keep things interesting. McFadden closed things out late in the 2nd on a nice passing play from Colhoun and Krulicki, making the final 4-2 Kinucks. Game MVP Laura Mangotich.
With 8 points and first place secured, the Kincardine girls would play for the championship against
The Barrie Sharks. This was a fast paced, up and down game with great action at both ends. Late in the first Colhoun stole the puck in the opposition’s end, firing a hard pass to Krulicki who tipped it five hole. Early in the second Colhoun broke in on the left side firing a rising wrist shot that handcuffed the Sharks goalie. A driving Bowes was rewarded and slammed home the loose puck to give the girls a 2-0 lead. Midway through the 2nd Surridge called for the puck high slot and Derksen listened with a nice centering feed that was buried immediately. Late in the second, Surridge carried the puck through center ice with purpose, gaining the line then releasing a rocket from the top of the circle stick side. Despite giving up a couple of goals in the 3rd, the girls played solid the rest of the way to secure the championship 4-2.
Game MVP Cassidy Colhoun. Tournament MVP Courtney Surridge.
Great weekend girls. Way to step up. Excellent hockey all weekend.
Good luck in provincials. G4G!