Etobicoke tournament brings girls from all over Ontario, as Dolphins host First Annual late October Classic.
The Lady Rangers looked bright eyed and bushy tailed and they arrived at Centennial Arena in Etobicoke, for most of the girls this would be their first experience with a Rep Hockey Tournament. All the girls were excited to see the fresh pink tape that Coach Jeff had carefully placed on each and every stick blade in honor of Cancer Awareness.
However once the girls took to the ice against their first opponents from Sudbury, the Rangers fell prey to the fast skating and very aggressive Lady Wolves. Even when the team was able to skate along side their Northern Rivals, the Ranger girls were unable to match the physical play. But after giving up 3 first period goals, Kitchener seem to wear out Sudbury eventually holding them scoreless in the third and adding one of their own, the damage had already been done and the girls lost their opener 5 -1.
The morning of Day two saw a very different team hit the ice, these Rangers started off the aggressor and did not seemed to be bothered by either the drive or the 7 am game time. Quickly, Kitchener led on the scoreboard 1 - 0 over the Ranger girls from Kanata. Kanata fought back hard and often drawing even not once but twice before netting the eventual winner and winning the game 3 - 2 and knocking the Kitchener Lady Rangers out of the final day of the tournament. Eden put in a solid performance turning away 29 of the 32 shots she faced.
After a wonderful Team Building breakfast the girls made their way to Mimico Arena to face their final opponent in the Belleville Bearcats. Whether it was something in the scrambled eggs, or maybe not enough chocolate pudding with candy topping, the Lady Rangers once again found themselves in tough against a team that was willing to fight harder on the puck. By the time all was said and done the Rangers had fallen 7 - 2 in their final game.
Sudbury would go on to win the Novice B title at the tournament with a 2 - 0 win over the Kanata Rangers. Sudbury had downed Belleville earlier in the day 4 - 3 to earn their spot in the final.
Although disappointed the girls played tough, even the Ranger fans in the stands stayed beside them being the most vocal they have been this year to date. Many thanks to the team and parents and especially all the Grandparents who travelled each of the days to each of the games.
Etobicoke can be very proud of their first Pink the Rink Tournament and special thanks to it volunteers and staff as well as sponsers. We cannot wait to make the trip back again.