Round 3 - So Close and Yet So Far, News, Midget - OWHA #2725, 2017-2018, A (Kitchener Minor Hockey)

This Team is part of the 2017-2018 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Mar 11, 2018 | Daryll Smith | 640 views
Round 3 - So Close and Yet So Far
After a two game series with the Cambridge Roadrunners, the Kitchener Lady Rangers opened up the third and final round of the LLFHL Playoffs against the Brampton Canadettes.  

Playing with an incredibly short bench, game one remained a fast paced affair. Hard work, many good chances and several timely saves had the ladies coming away with their first point of round three. 

Any resemblance to game one ended with the drop of the puck in game two. A sluggish first followed by an unlucky bounce in the second had the ladies down by one at the break. Whether it was the disappointment of the qualifiers loss, fatigue or simply having packed their bags after a long season with the coaching staff, there remained a lack of urgency and desire in the third. Although scoring on a beautiful back door power play opportunity, the ladies gave up a shorthanded goal as well as an empty netter to end game two.

As was discussed many times during the season, the “second season” is a vastly different beast than the first “22” games. Making it into the playoffs is simply the beginning. Although we believe you were the most talented team in the division, we also knew that hard work would trump talent when the talent fails to work hard. As hard as you played, game three was simply not meant to be (seriously...a back handed fluffer nutter hitting the cross bar, goalie and down....what the......).

Our congratulations to the Brampton Canadettes on three well-played games of hockey. We wish you well at Provincials and in the LLFHL Finals.

I am disappointed as head coach that I was not able to take you where you deserved to go, at the time of the season that matters the most. I remain a “student” of the game and will take the time to discuss same with the coaching staff during the off season in our preparation for next year.

However, regardless of outcome, you remain one of the best teams and nicest bunch of young ladies that we have ever had the pleasure of coaching. We enjoyed coming to the rink every day with you and are fortunate to have had this opportunity. For those leaving hockey, we wish you all the best! Team sports have a way of making a great foundation for all your future endeavors. Continue to make you mark where ever you go.  For those leaving KMHA, we hope to see you in a rink sometime, somewhere soon! For those who maybe returning, see you in a few weeks!

In hockey and in life, there are three types of people. There are those who make it happen, those who watch it happen and those who wonder what happened.

Be one who will make it happen!