Thanks
to all the Kitchener Lady Rangers U18 “A” ladies for their “first tournament”
weekend!
On behalf of James, Ken, Sarah, and Tim, I wanted to thank all the ladies for the first tournament weekend of 2024 / 2025. The ladies started slow out of the gate, which was perhaps to be expected. Some good puck movement led to several good scoring opportunities. After giving up a shorthanded tying goal early in the third, the ladies came right back with one of their own securing the tournaments first “W”. After several trips to the box in game 1, game 2 was also a penalty filled affair. The ladies had a stronger first period out-shooting Grand River and taking a 1 – 0 lead into the second. However, for the second time in two games, the ladies would give up “another” shorthanded goal (we must stay out of the box) and headed into the third tied at 1. With just under five left to play, the ladies would make the most of several good opportunities and come away with their second “W” of the tournament. Game 3 again started slow for the ladies (hopefully not a season long recurring theme!) with just three SOG in the first. A
low shot game overall, thirty nine minutes would solve nothing and the ladies grabbed their 5th point of the weekend heading into the fourth and final round robin game.
Needing a tie or a win to advance, the coaches described the ladies as looking like they were skating in peanut butter at times. Game 4’s lesson involved the importance of watching from the bench and understanding what you see. After many reminders, a momentary lack of F3 coverage led to a Mississauga two on one and, coupled with a failed back-check stick pick up, gave the Hurricanes all the scoring they would need to advance to Sunday.
We appreciated your continued effort, hard work and determination in each game of the tournament. There were many well executed breakout options (you have a bunch to choose from right now), some great regroups and D to D’s. We need to remember that the +1 “MUST GO!” in the unlikely event that we keep finding our way to the box. Some additional strength on puck, on ice awareness (scanning, shoulder checks, color of the jersey we are wearing 😊😊) and communication, will go a long way towards your season’s success. Keep working on the “foundation” of the house as it will need to be solid moving forward. Please remember what we are working towards. No Provincial Championship has ever been awarded in September.
Thanks to Cornwall (2-1), Grand River (3-1), Durham West (0-0) and Mississauga #5879 (0-2) for four well-played games of hockey. Keep up the hard work ladies. The regular season is just around the corner!
On behalf of the Kitchener Lady Ranger U18 “A’s” we would like to congratulate Whitby on their tournament Gold. Well done!
