Wilmot bantam girls take tournament gold for the third time this season, winning again in London
Five Wellesley girls part of a team that draws players from a fairly wide area; girls back in playoff action this weekend
THE GIRLS FROM THE Wilmot Bantam HL team took home their third tournament gold medal this past weekend at the London Devilettes Hockey Tournament.
“It was probably one of the most exciting tournaments,” said head coach Shane Adam. “They just played amazing; every parent was on the edge of their seat.”
After two wins and one loss, the team was seated second in their pool, sending them to the quarterfinals Saturday evening.
The team clawed back from a 1-0 deficit to overtake St. Catharines 3-1, advancing to the semifinals.
Sunday morning the girls laced up and hit the ice against the South County Predators Blue squad. After a hard-fought double overtime, Kayla Foy scored the game-winner with only 7.4 seconds left on the clock, narrowly escaping a shootout.
The finals saw the Wolverines facing off against the South Country Predators Yellow, the only team the girls had lost to in tournament play. However, that didn’t faze the girls, who outscored their opponents 4-0 for the victory.
“To win the finals against the team that had beat us earlier in the tournament was just a perfect end to the weekend,” said the coach.
Their third tournament of the season, the girls have ended each one the same way: with the gold medal around their necks.
“This is the third tournament that we have won. Our first two tournaments we went undefeated in both tournaments.”
Adam couldn’t ask for a more fluid group, despite the team coming from varying skill levels and all over the place, with Wellesley, St. Clements, Stratford and Woodstock represented.
The season isn’t over just yet, and Adam has high expectations for the team.
“I am definitely hoping that we win it all. They have worked so hard that they deserve this – all three of our tournaments, every game this season, they have all come out wanting to win and you know they have learned so much,” he said. “It’s been a lot of fun with this group of girls.”
And the team is well on their way, as back in regulation play they have won their first two games of the new year and has its second go at playoff games starting Friday evening.