Apr 12, 2015 | billwalker | 814 views
Hard working Rams go down swinging at Provincials
By Christine Rivet
MISSISSAUGA -- The short-staffed Mount Forest peewee C Rams played
their hearts out at the provincial championships this weekend, earning
high praise from their coaching staff and from their parents who saw
exactly what their girls are made of.
The Rams finished a little short of their objective, missing the playoff round but with a commendable 1-2 record through the round robin to close out their fine season.
"The girls were simply exhausted. They finished their year by giving us exactly the kind of effort the coaches have asked for -- unrelenting," said head coach Bill Walker. "I sound like a broken record but our coaches really couldn't be prouder of them."
Friday's action saw the Rams absorb a tough 5-2 loss to Blyth-Brussels in their tournament opener. The hard-working Rams just couldn't buy a break although they continued to battle until the final buzzer. As she has done all season, Mount Forest captain Haven L. led the charge with both Rams' goals.
In typical Ram form, the girls responded Friday night with one of their most determined efforts of the season, a 1-0 decision over the talented and eventual Ontario bronze-medal winners, the Russell Coyotes. Rams goalie Alyssa V., in her first season as a goalie, was sensational again putting on a goaltending clinic, thwarting the Russell shooters throughout.
Chloe R. scored the game's only goal to punctuate her impressive weekend, where she hustled to loose pucks and drove hard to the net.
In their season finale on Saturday, the Mount Forest girls, who once again went with a bare-bones roster of nine skaters, fell 3-2 to Otonabee.
The Rams were dropping like flies in that contest no thanks to some questionable tactics by their hack and whack opponents.
The game saw winger Chloe K. sent to the showers early with a possible wrist buckle following a collision with an opponent. Now down to eight skaters, the Rams soldiered on.
Tireless defender turned winger Jaime G. buzzed around the Otonobee net all game long, figuring in on both Rams' markers, collecting a goal and an assist.
Chloe R. scored the other goal for the Mount Forest girls, converting a fine pass from behind the net from Jaime.
The coaches presented their team's year-end awards following the season-ender. Haven L. took the hard hat home as the peewee's hardest working player for the entire season -- no small feat on a roster bursting with lunch buckets and work boots.
First-year winger Shea M. was presented with the Super Girl cape for her knack of contributing monster play after monster play through the 2014-15 season.
The battle-tested Rams finished up their campaign with a third-place finish in their league championship tournament in a strong WOAA loop which also produced the eventual provincial gold medalists from Chatsworth.
The Mount Forest girls also collected a silver medal at the Orangeville tournament and a consolation title from the Goderich tournament this season.
"It was an outstanding year for our girls. They were good teammates and friends to each other. They were like sponges, soaking up everything we could throw at them.
"It was a pleasure to work with such a fine group of girls and with their parents who really bought into our message. We were definitely short on numbers this season but our girls took so much pride in always attempting to be the hardest-working team in hockey."
Definitely, a season to remember.