Silver for U12P and U14AA Lightning teams
The Lightning’s U12P-Harling and U14AA-Ianni teams competed in one of Ontario’s oldest and largest Ringette tournaments, the Cambridge Ringette Association 42 Annual Tournament. This venue attracts many of the finest Ringette players in the country where as many as 100 teams come to compete.
In the U12P division, the Harling team went undefeated during round robin action and outscored their competition 33 – 10. However, Metcalfe proved to be a worthy opponent during round robin play as they held a 2 goal lead three times in the opening frame before the Lightning pulled even at 4-4 midway through the 2nd half. Metcalfe took a 5-4 lead with less that 5 minutes remaining however the Lightning tied the score with 1:06 remaining and then took their only lead with 45 seconds remaining which they held for a 6-5 win. The final was a rematch with Metcalfe who jumped out to a 2-0 lead midway through the first before Taryn Joy brought the team within a goal with 54 seconds remaining in the opening frame off a feed from Alexia Himelfarb. However, Metcalfe made a quick pass into the Lightning zone from the ensuing free pass and restored their 2 goal lead a mere 7 seconds later. The Lightning pulled within a goal when Taryn Joy scored her second goal for the game after being set up by Victoria Lee. Despite forcing Metcalfe to take several penalties in the final frame, the Lightning couldn’t replicate the come back they achieved in the round robin match as Metcalfe took the match 3-2 to relegate the Lightning as silver medalists. Five Lightning players finished in the top ten scoring with Taryn Joy leading the way with 17 points, followed closely by Victoria Lee with 15, Makayla Nunno with 14, Sydney Nobes with 10, and Alexia Himelfarb with 9. Goalie, Riley Hamilton, posted the lowest goals against average with a 2.4 average.
In the U14AA division, the Ianni team posted a 3 win, 1 loss record during round robin action in advancing to the medal match and rematch with the Guelph Predators. In their round robin match, the Lightning held leads of 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2 only to see Guelph come back and tie the score each time before eventually going ahead 4-3 before the end of the first half. The second half saw the Lightning force the Predators to take several penalties, but the Lightning was unable to take advantage as Guelph held on for the 4-3 victory. In the medal final, the Lightning took a 1-0 lead when Haleigh Beam scored after taking a feed from Kiana Fraser; however Guelph came back with a pair of goals to carry a 2-1 lead into the final frame. The Lightning tied the score on Haleigh Beams second goal of the game thanks to some good ring movement by Sydney Stabler and Hayley Salb. The Lightning then retook the lead when Kyla Ciomyk finished off a play set up by Caroline Routledge and Kaylin Joy. However, Guelph tied the score on a power play and took the lead with less that 4 minutes remaining which they held for another 4-3 victory while relegating another Lightning team as silver medalists.
Congratulations to our Lightning teams for a great showing!