“What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Every ounce of everything they are was poured out onto the ice of the South Courtice Recreational Facility, and with Silver Medals hanging around their necks there was a certain sense of achievement that bordered on complete exhaustion. The Kitchener Lady Ranger Peewee BB Team had travelled to the Clarington Applefest and was bringing home hardware.
After the opening game Friday morning against a tough Markham-Stouffville squad, and a convincing 2-0 win the optimism had begun to churn deep in the fanbase, the Girls we just getting started and gaining confidence. Lang led the way with the game winning goal, Kroner adding insurance while Mark earned the shutout. Friday evening would prove tougher but way more exciting.
The Friday night game against the Kanata Rangers, held just outside town in Newcastle, was a speedy and physical affair with both teams battling hard to the very end. As the game went on and each scoring chance was pushed away it became clear that these two teams equaled each other in Will and Desire. When seemingly out of the Blue, the Kitchener side was called for a penalty with under a minute thirty to go, this would prove to be a turning point and with less than ten seconds left Kanata jumped the blue line and threw the puck towards the net just finding a slight shoulder high hole. The arena filled with the screams of shock and awe, but there were still more games to play.
Regrouping physically and mentally was not going to be a challenge for the Lady Rangers and Saturday morning a determined and very disciplined Kitchener team emerged. Peterson opened the scoring less than five minutes in which seem to prompt a Belleville Bearcat parade to the penalty box. Schroder added two more goals as the Belleville team played musical chairs in the Sin Bin, Mark earned her second blank sheet of the tournament.
The Saturday evening contest was played in a small farming community at the local arena and fairgrounds in Orono, Ontario. Hunchak was the first to find the back of the net in the first, but the Clarington Flames added the equalizer halfway through the second. As the third period started the momentum began to shift, and just a few minutes in Krueger broke free and was off, she made no mistake sliding the puck past the home town goaltender. Rangers finish with a 2-1 win and a date with the Ottawa Valley Ice in the Semi-Final on Sunday Morning.
In the Semi-Final game Ottawa struck first and just ten seconds into the game, this was quickly answered by Peterson less than a minute later. But with under a minute left in the first the Ice scored again, a 2-1 lead they would take into the third period. It wasn’t until halfway through the last period that Hunchak tied the game up, only to have the Ice take the lead again. Not to be outdone, Hunchak again stormed the net thirteen seconds after the Ice goal to net her second of the game, now tying it at 3’s. After another short battle regulation would solve nothing and a five minute Overtime would be needed. That extra time would also prove pointless as both Netminders would kick aside any opportunity and there would be a Shootout. No one could have been prepared for what would happen next, shooter after shooter would be denied by these two outstanding Goaltenders. Halfway through the entire lineup, Kuepfer would put one in, only to have Ottawa Valley go the other way to tie it back up. More shooters, more saves, right up until both teams had gone through everyone they had on the bench, 16 Ranger and Ice chances had gone by when Krueger stepped back in to try again, this time she would not be denied and with a quick save by Mark on the other end, Kitchener was off to the Finals of the Clarington Applefest and another date with the Rangers from Kanata.
Anyway you looked at the final, a Ranger team was sure to come out victorious and this one was going to be a fight to the finish. Both teams battled extremely hard and stayed largely on the good side of the law, as neither team was willing to bend there was no scoring for the first two periods. It was not until halfway through the third period that Kanata was able to scoop up a loose puck at center ice, drive towards the crease and find the only available bit of twine showing. Although the Kitchener side would not give up it was just not meant to be, the Lady Rangers would have to settle for Silver, a hard earned and eagerly accepted Silver.
So early in this season this Kitchener Ranger team has shown time and time again that they will not quit, they will not waiver, and they will not stand down. The drive and passion that this sweet sixteen have, the respect they harbor for each other, and the unending desire to learn and work as a team are going to be the factors that push these girls to challenge greatness. There is no doubt that each and every player gave everything they had in the final, most of them were asleep in moving vehicles before they hit the 401, they all had the time they needed to reflect and move on as they soaked in hot baths and showers meant to soothe the aches, pains, and injuries, a physical testament to just how much they sacrificed for each other that day.
Proud parents, Staff, and fans applaud the Girls for their effort and for their success, they have made a City and its Community stand up and take notice, the Lady Rangers mean business and they intend to do what it takes for each other and all together for The Game and Teammates they love so dearly.
Next up for the Rangers are two away games this weekend versus the Grand River Mustangs and the West Huron Wave.