The Canadian Tire Atom Rep Girls had their Christmas vacation slumber broken on Saturday afternoon when the Grey Highland Shooting Stars came to town for their first meeting of the year. The coaching staff was keen to get the holiday rust off early after 2 weeks away from the rink. The pre-game chat was focused on getting to the puck early and putting pressure on the Markdale defence.
The girls must have been paying attention to coach Gratto as they were on top of the Shooting Stars from the opening face off. Quick shifts for the forward line got everyone into the game early. Pressuring the defence were wingers Morgan Talbot, Caydence Gibson, Ela Jones and Kennedy Urie. Driving through the middle were centers Dakota Christie-Wylds and Ella Gratto. Defenders Taylor Carney, Dayle Chinnick, Gabby Legge and Jorja Scott held the blue line to keep the Shooting Stars hemmed into their own end. The assault on the opposing net was rebuffed by an agile goalie but the Kincardine bench knew that eventually one would go in. Sure enough, after 6 minutes of play and some heads up passing, Jones got the puck to Urie who fired a quick pass to Christie in front of the net. A quick shot, by Christie, found the net and the Kinucks had a 1-0 lead.
In the second period the Markdale team started to push back. A couple of strong rushes put goalie Macara Brooks on the hot seat. She was up to task as she repeatedly thwarted any attack the Stars could muster and deftly steered rebounds away from harm. Kincardine continued to attack, but the period ended as it began with the Kinucks clinging to a slim 1-0 lead. The home team definitely carried the balance of play, but would 1 goal be enough for a win?
Thankfully we will never know as 1:17 into the final frame 2 beauty passes from Scott to Gratto and then on to stick of Gibson for a monster one-timer gave the Kinucks a 2 goal lead. And they didn't stop there. Jorja Scott fired a shot that found the back of the net (unassisted) and 21 seconds later another goal by Gibson waiting in front of the net courtesy of a laser beam pass from the boards by Talbot. Up 4-0 the girls felt comfortable...perhaps a bit too comfortable as Markdale continued to drive hard to the net. Time and again Brooks kept the puck out of the net, but some loose defensive coverage allowed a lone Star to break in unimpeded and sneak the puck into the Kincardine net. That goal galvanized the girls' resolve as a total team effort cemented the win. Final score: 4-1.
Ella Gratto left the game with the hard hat for her strong forechecking and heads up play as she covered for rushing defence. Great game girls!