Nov 16, 2014 | rbeilhartz | 747 views
A Great Weekend in Barrie!
It didn't end the way we wanted, and the medal isn't gold, but...it sure was a great weekend of hockey! If someone had told us going into the Barrie Sharkfest Tournament that we would be playing on Sunday, we probably would have been happy with that...but in the end we accomplished so much more!
The weekend started out on Friday with a bang, and a goal scoring outbreak against the Georgina Hawks. The girls scored early and often, in a 5-0 victory. Goals went to Brynn (2), Emily, Carolina, and Amanda, with assists to Alwynn and Carolina. Logan Picked up her first shutout, behind a solid effort by the D.
The Mustangs then travelled to Stroud for their second game, and their first match up with the Chatham Outlaws. Chatham turned out to be a very tough test, with a strong and fast team that challenged the girls all over the ice. But it was a game where, for the first time this season, almost all the bounces seemed to go the Mustangs' way. An early goal, on a long shot by Carolina from just inside the Chatham blue line, eluded the Outlaws netminder. The Outlaws continued to work hard, and had numerous dangerous chances on Logan. But it was Brynn who bulged the twine next, with an assist to Alwynn. Chatham continued to test the Mustangs' resolve, and a fluke goal that went in off a Mustang seemed to give their opponent even more energy. In the end though, the girls hung on for a hard fought 2-1 victory.
A well-earned swim, and a good long night's sleep helped to rejuvenate the girls for Saturday's rematch with last weekend's foe, the Kitchener Lady Rangers. The girls were familiar with Kitchener's tight checking and aggressive style of play, and were prepared to match it with similar resolve. From the outset, Kitchener seemed determined to not meet the same fate as last weekend, and challenged the Mustangs into making a few sloppy plays...but they couldn't beat Logan. Cameron broke open the scoring, on a well-executed faceoff play, when Carolina cleanly won the draw to Cameron who whipped a wrist shot into the short side under the goalie's blocker. That same line got the insurance marker with some hard work in front of the net, when Morgan banged one in. Cameron and Carolina each picked up assists on the goal. The final score was a repeat of their earlier meeting, 2-0 Mustangs, with another shutout for Logan.
Three wins earned the girls a berth in the Semi-Finals on Sunday, as the first place team.
Sunday morning saw the girls matched up with the North Bay Ice Boltz, with a spot in the Final on the line. The Mustangs were not to be denied and, despite a few girls being a bit under the weather, their teammates picked up their play and took the game to the Ice Boltz. On the first shift of the game the puck was in back of the North Bay net, but the goal was not counted...which seemed to light a fire under the Mustangs. Brynn made sure that her second one did count, with and assist by Alwynn, and Cameron later banged in Carolina's rebound to provide the insurance. The 2-0 final, for the Mustangs, was more decisive than it appeared as the girls played one of their most complete games at both ends of the ice. Every player was determined to make the Final on Sunday afternoon!
The Final was a rematch against Chatham, and the tired Mustangs knew they faced a tough task. The Outlaws were determined to exact revenge for the earlier defeat, and came out with guns a-blazing! The Mustangs didn`t back down, and met each challenge with grit and determination...as well as some more outstanding goaltending by Logan. The girls were running on fumes, but dug deep for their last reserves of energy in battling to a 0-0 draw at the end of regulation time. What followed was a 5 minute "Sudden Death" 4 on 4 overtime.
Overtime was back and forth, with chances at both ends. With less than two minutes left, Madi was leading a rush through centre when she was roughly stripped of the puck. As she struggled to get back up, Chatham broke in on Logan and jammed the puck into the net...much to the chagrin of the Mustangs' faithful.
It was a very tough way to end, but it was certainly not an ending where the girls should have hung their heads...they played their hearts out, and deserved a better fate. They ended up with a hard-earned Silver Medal, and some real motivation to take into the rest of the season!!
Well done, Mustangs, you make us proud every time you step onto the ice!
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