By Christine Rivet
MITCHELL
– Haven L. scored the game-winner 26 seconds into the final period
as the Mount Forest bantam 'C' Rams posted a thrilling 2-1 victory
over the hosts at the Mitchell Meteors Girls Hockey Tournament on
Saturday morning.
Haven collected a sky-high flip pass from teammate Abby W. and deposited the goal before an elated contingent of Mount Forest parents.
The Rams were breathing fire on Saturday morning, exactly like their coaches urged them.
“First to the puck, kept their feet moving throughout – the girls are really buying into our message. We couldn't be prouder of their effort,” said Mount Forest coach Bill W.
As the Rams are finding out, the referees aren't always enforcing the letter of the law.
No matter, the Mount Forest girls are tough enough to play any brand of hockey.
Hayley G. scored the game's first marker when she followed up a Morgan F. rush by chipping the puck over a sprawled Mitchell goalie midway through the second.
Olivia S. and Paige D. were both buzzing around the Mitchell goal and each of them got a stick on terrific deflections, forcing the Meteors netminder to make several heart-stopping saves.
At the other end of the ice, Mount Forest goalie Alyssa V. stood tall in her crease, turning back the Meteors time and again especially in the late going.
“Everybody found something good to do on every shift," coach Bill said. "It might've been backchecking hard. Maybe it was picking up their check in our zone. But all 13 girls contributed to this win.”
And that is why the coaches opted to have all the girls sign the hard hat after the contest. Alyssa V. earned the Super Girl cape for her heroics in goal.
The Rams will need all 13 girls rowing the boat in the same direction on Sunday when they square off against the rugged Lucan Irish, the only team to defeat the Mount Forest girls at this event.
The tournament final is 4:15 p.m. Sunday in Mitchell.