The Spry Site Supervision Atom A Bearcats completed the triple crown of girls hockey on the weekend winning the Provincial Championship.
The Spry Site Supervision Atom A Bearcats completed the triple crown of girls hockey on the weekend winning the Provincial Championship.
The Bearcats previously won the International Silver Stick Championship and Lower Lakes Championship, putting them just one major championship away from the triple crown.
16 teams from across the province qualified for the provincial championships.
First up for Belleville was Stratford, a strong team from the Western Conference. The Bearcats as they have done all season, struck first. Tori "TK" Neuman had the finish with assists from Peyton "Cash" Cormier and Annaka "Jedi" Hoover. Stratford would answer back with a goal of their own in the second period to tie the tilt. The Bearcats carried the play through the third period and even had a goal disallowed, but couldn't find a marker that would stand. The game ended in a 1-1 tie. Lacey "Jelly" Clement was superb in net for the Bearcats.
Game 2 would pit the Bearcats versus the Northern Ontario qualifiers, the Sudbury Lady Wolves. It would be Cormier who opened the scoring with a rocket to the back of the net, assists to Maddy "Mad Dog" Geen and Alex "Mountain" Dewar. It took just a minute and 20 seconds for Jerika "Geno" Spry to double the lead on a blast just under the bar. Assists went to Rowynn "Titan" Cochrane and Neuman. Neuman opened the third period with a laser increasing the lead to 3-0. Assists to Jenna "Train" Nieman and Spry. Sudbury would answer back twice on the power play in the final two minutes, but it wouldn't be enough. Final score Bearcats 3 - Lady Wolves 2. Clement was in net.
Game 3 vs the Etobicoke Dolphins was must win if the Bearcats were to proceed out of their group to the knockout stage of the tournament. Spry opened the scoring on the first shift of the game from Neuman and Ainsley "Boogie" Phillips. It would be Cormier on the first shift of the second period who doubled the lead from Mykelti "Pottsy" Potts and Dylan "Hawk" Trickey. Cormier wasn't done, potting her second goal of the game five minutes later from Claire "Rocket" Rathwell and Taylor "Woody" Wood. It would take only 9 seconds for the Bearcats to score again, this time Spry was the sniper from Neuman and Dewar. Neuman would add another in the third period unassisted to give the Bearcats a 5-0 victory, an undefeated group stage and a berth in the Round of 8. Brylie "Trapper" Renaud was in net for the Bearcats first shutout of the Provincial tournament.
The Bearcats would finish second in their group (tied on points for first) setting them up for an elimination game versus the Central Division Champion, North Halton Twisters, a team that had lost only 2 games all year. The first period was a back and forth, lightning quick affair with chances for both sides, but it was Neuman scoring on a rebound from Dewar and Spry with only 56 seconds on the clock that would give the Bearcats the lead going into the second. The Bearcats carried the play in the second period, but neither team could find a goal. That all changed on the first shift of the third period when Cormier scored yet again, from Neuman and Hoover to give the Bearcats a two-goal lead. Clement would shut the door for the Bearcats second consecutive shutout and Belleville would move on to the semi-finals with a 2-0 victory.
The Cornwall Typhoons would be the Bearcats opponent in the semis. Belleville dominated play for three periods, but could not find a way past the stalwart Typhoons defence. Nothing would be solved and the teams would go to overtime to determine who would play in the gold medal game. It would be Spry with the goal on the first shift of the overtime from Cormier and Clement sending the Bearcats to the gold medal game. Clement was in net for the Bearcats third consecutive shutout.
After 30+ games and three days, it would be the two teams that started together that finished together. The Bearcats would play the Stratford Aces in the finals.
Belleville held the edge in play over the first two periods, but going into the intermission it would 0-0, with everything on the line in the last 15 minutes. At the half-way mark of the period it would be Tsyora'sehstha Brant fighting off two Aces defenders who would open the scoring for Belleville. Assists to Cormier and Dewar. Two minutes later it would be Spry putting the game away with a blistering shot. Assists to Cormier and Cochrane. Clement shut the door the rest of the way for Belleville's fourth consecutive shutout and Provincial title.
Prior to the championship game the girls decided among themselves that they would like to give up some of their preparation time to honour those affected by the tragedy to the Humboldt Broncos. After a minute of silence, the girls warmed up, put on their equipment and formed a circle around a heart made of pucks to show their love and support of the Humboldt families.
The Spry Site Supervision Atom A Bearcats finish their season with 55 wins and only 7 losses. Along the way they won six tournaments and the Lower Lakes Eastern Division regular season championship.
Photo credit: Joni Hoover