by Rick Rier
The Capitals Kinettes Midget ‘A’ Ladies hockey team continued with their winning ways into 2015, winning all six games at the annual Guelph Gryphons Ladies hockey tournament.
West division rivals the Woodstock Wildcats were the first competition on Friday, with the Walkerton girls victorious 3-1 despite taking nine minor penalties in the match. Julie Thomson was first to score with an unassisted effort but Woodstock would manage to tie it up at one after one. Period two would be all Walkerton, with goals by Joelle Busby and Elyse Bridgwater proving to be all they would need. Cassidy Becker earning the win in net.
Next up Friday night vs Barrie this time a 5-1 victory. Jasmine Thompson from Ally Spielmacher opened the scoring before Spielmacher would get her first of two with the assist to Elyse Bridgwater. Barrie would manage to get one past Erica Parker, but that was all and Walkerton countered with three more from Joelle Busby, Julie Thomson and Spielmacher. Melynda McKenzie would chip in with two assists.
Rounding out the round robin would be a game against Oakville. This was a quick game with both goalies having to make several good saves. Joelle Busby would continue her strong play over the weekend with assists to line mates Julie Thomson and Leah Kittel to open the scoring for Walkerton after falling behind 1-0 after the first. Then Thomson scored from Busby and Madison Wright before Elyse Bridgwater would make it 3-1 the final score from Thomson and Jasmine Thompson.
The quarter final game against Aurora proved to be the Leah Kittel show as she lead the way with four goals! Hockey is a team game though and Erica Parker picked up the shut-out in net and a 6-0 win. Other point getters in the one sided affair were Julie Thomson, Madison Wright, Melynda McKenzie, Elyse Bridgwater, Natalie Lupo-Flewelling, and Rebecca Rier.
Semi finals up next and Lower Lake rival, and tournament host, the Guelph Gryphons are the opponent. This would be the only team to have defeated the Walkerton ladies in regular season play, so they girls were pumped for this tilt,,,and it showed. No score after one with some great end-to-end action from both teams, and numerous stellar saves from Cassidy Becker and the Guelph goalie. Early into period two Leah Kittel would lite the lamp from Joelle Busby and Olivia Linklater. They would remain up 1-0 until late in the third, with less than 4 minutes to play a Walkerton penalty. Then, with just over two minutes, another penalty called on Walkerton. Guelph pulls their goalie and try everything they can. However, clicking on all cylinders with the defence, great fore checking, and outstanding goaltending, the girls dug deep and Leah Kittel would bury a nifty empty netter to drive home the 2-0 victory, and set up the Gold Medal game for Sunday evening.
As luck would have it, the Clearview Icecats would be the opponent. Just over a month removed from a tournament in Hazel Park Michigan where these same two teams battled it out in the Gold Medal game for that tourney, Clearview taking the 1-0 decision. These two teams play exceptional hockey, well, in my opinion. They are matched very well both offensively, defensively, and goaltending. This time, the Walkerton girls secured the Gold with a great team effort and a 2-1 victory. Joelle Busby from Kittel and Thomson were the first to score, then Thomson from Jasmine Thompson teamed up and it was 2-0. Clearview would manage to get one early in the third, but that was all that Erica Parker and her teammates would allow. An outstanding effort by all involved and congratulations, you should be very proud of your efforts and Commitment to one another!!