44 teams from across Ontario and 2 from New York State began the year in early October on a quest to win the Lower Lakes Championship.
After 22 regular
season games, the field was narrowed down to 32 play off entries in the four
divisions.
Each division held
three rounds of playoffs to determine four winners, Napanee Express from the
East, Scarborough Sharks from the Central East, West Seneca NY Wings from the
South West and the Walkerton Capitals from the West. These four clubs qualified
for the Lower Lakes Championship weekend held in Mississauga.
Walkerton opened the tournament
facing Scarborough. The first period was
scoreless as both teams tried to find a strategy. Walkerton stared the scoring
with two power play goals in the 2nd scored by Jasmine Thompson and
Julie Thomson, both goals were assisted by Leah Kittel. Julie Thomson scored
her second goal early in the third assisted by Maddy Wright and Joelle Busby.
Kittel would finish out the scoring with another PP goal assisted by Julie Thomson.
The defense of Melynda McKenzie, Dallas
Fischer, Taya Schipprack and Morgan Wright would aid goalie Cassidy Becker to
earn the shutout.
Game two of the round robin would
see West Seneca NY take over the opponent’s bench. The
Americans would open the scoring midway through the first period. Walkerton fired
many shots on the West Seneca goalie but she made many big saves to keep her
team in the lead. With 4:45 left in the game, Larsen’s persistence finally paid
off with Julie Thomson scoring from Jasmine Thompson and Nicole Osborne. The
game would end at one goal a piece.
Next up for the Capitals was
Napanee. Walkerton came out strong, scoring early and often to take a
convincing 7-0 win. Goals were tallied by Julie Thomson (3), Ashley Ernst,
Busby, Osborne and Kittel. The helpers went to Busby (3), Jasmine Thompson (3),
Fischer, Maddy Wright and Monica Fritz. Becker earned her second shutout of the
tourney.
The top two teams from the round
robin were set to meet in the final. Walkerton would once again face our
neighbours from the south, West Seneca. Kittel opened the scoring in the second
period with assistance from Julie Thomson. The Wings would tie the game early
in the third. Overtime looked like a sure thing, until with 2:11 left to play,
Jasmine Thompson buried a rebound from a Schipprack shot to give the Capitals
the Championship.
The girl’s have had an amazing
season thus far and hope to keep it rolling April 13-15th at the OWHA
provincial tournament to be held in the GTA. Go Caps!!