Mar 14, 2015 | billwalker | 727 views
Freewheeling Rams find their mojo
By Christine Rivet
GODERICH
-- The peewee C Rams snapped out of their funk in convincing style with
a 4-1 decision over league rivals, the West Grey Warriors, in their
round-robin finale at the 66th Young Canada Week tournament on Saturday.
The Mount Forest girls needed a win to advance to Sunday's semifinal. And a big victory is exactly what they got.
The Rams returned to their bread-and-butter ways on Saturday after absorbing a 1-0 loss to Ilderton on Friday and skating to a 2-2 draw with Blyth-Brussels later Friday.
On Saturday, the slow-starting Rams surrendered the game's first goal before responding to their coaches' challenge.
The Mount Forest coaches asked the Rams to attack the puck, set the pace and crash the crease.
That aggressive strategy paid off for a determined Chloe R. who scored the Rams' first two goals by going hard to the net in a three-goal second period outburst.
Presley B. was credited with the Rams' third marker on a power-play point shot that appeared to bounce off her teammate Paige D. who set a perfect screen.
Shea M. banged in another goal for the Rams in the third period, giving her teammates some much-needed breathing room.
Alyssa V. kept her teammates in the game early with some scintillating saves on Saturday, taking home the Super Girl Cape. Jayde M. was presented with the Hard Hat for a take-charge game on the Rams' backend.
Captain Haven L. once again set the pace with her usual fine work in all three zones. She took home the game MVP honours.
But Saturday's effort was a true team effort, said assistant coach Murray K., one that each and every member the Rams can be proud of.
Mount Forest's girls relied on their impressive fitness levels to force the Warriors to taking penalty after penalty (14 minutes in all!) in an effort to keep up with the freewheeling Rams.
On Friday, following lengthy delays because of unsafe ice conditions at the Maitland Arena, the Rams shook off a sub-par 1-0 loss to Ilderton in their tournament opener.
In Friday's late game, played a full three hours after its scheduled start, the Rams needed the equalizer from the magic wand of Chloe K. who pulled the rabbit out of her hat with a scant 35 ticks left on the game clock. Page D. also scored for the Rams.
Mount Forest's girls advance to Sunday's semifinal round with a date with league rivals, Lucknow-Wingham.
Game time in Goderich is 10:40 a.m.
West-Grey faces Ilderton in the tourney's other semi.