Counting down the days
Regional championship has extra sentimental value for Eastern Stars’ Chapman, Gordon
The opportunity to play against the region’s best teams in a playoff setting is always an honour.
For two members of the Down East Auto Parts Eastern Stars, the 2024 Atlantic under-18 AAA hockey championship carries sentimental value.
Team captain Renée Chapman and assistant captain Cassie Gordon are in their third and final year of under18 hockey, and the regional tournament could mark their final minor hockey game.
“You are always seeing the girls ahead of you getting to their last year and graduating, but to register it is my last year, it’s hard to believe," the 17-year-old Chapman, a centre from Little Harbour. “It’s sad but at the same time it’s exciting because I know there is more to come.”
Chapman and Gordon hope to extend their minor hockey careers by the Stars winning the Atlantic championship.
“I know this is kind of a wrap, but hopefully we are going to win, keep our season going and head to B.C. (for nationals),” said Gordon, a 17-year-old left-winger from Murray Harbour.
The Stars are one of five teams competing for the Atlantic title. The field also includes the defendingchampion Northern Subway Selects (Nova Scotia), the Western Flames (New Brunswick), Tri-pen Ice (Newfoundland and Labrador) and the Western Warriors (host).
“We’ve been in lots of tournaments this year, and we know you need to get there and need to win,” said Chapman. “That’s the plan heading into Atlantics, and we are going to try to limit the amount of mistakes we make to get us playing in that goldmedal game.”
Gordon added the Stars have been focusing on how the other teams in Atlantics play during their preparation. The top two teams after round-robin play advance to the championship game while the third- and fourth-place teams will play in a bronzemedal contest.
“We already have that idea of how we are going to compete,” said Gordon.
YOUNG ROSTER
An interesting statistic about the Stars is the team's youthfulness. Chapman and Gordon are the only two graduating players, and head coach Blaine Fitzpatrick noted almost half of the team roster is comprised of firstyear under-18 players.
“We have the mindset going in, ‘Why not us?'” said Fitzpatrick. “We understand our age, but we have had experience in years past at Atlantics.
“We know it’s a huge hill; there are some really good teams we are up against. We believe if we can play our game, play solid, play within our systems, we are going to be hard to play against for anybody.”
Fitzpatrick said the Stars have worked hard preparing for the Atlantic tournament and is not concerned about their age.
“We are a young team, but we are a very gritty team, well prepared and very focused,” said Fitzpatrick. “We know it’s a large challenge ahead of us, but we welcome the opportunity to see what we can do.”
The young Stars were not intimidated during the regular season, finishing second out of nine teams in the Maritime Major Under-18 AAA Female Hockey League with a record of 22-6-1 (wonlost-tied).
After regular-season play, the Stars swept the Western Wind in a best-of-seven P.E.I. championship series to determine the province’s representative at the Atlantics.
“We’ve had a great year and, personally, we were way more successful than I could have imagined,” said Gordon. “That really comes from being such a well-rounded team.
“We always play as a team; there is no individual play. Something Blaine has made us really focus on is working together, and that led to all our success.”
EXCITING TIMES
Regardless how the Stars fare this weekend, Chapman says the team has a bright future.
“To know we are such a young team and to be at that level, it’s just going to get better and better every year,” said Chapman. “It’s amazing and even though I won’t be a part of it, I’m super excited to follow the team’s progress.”
As the most experienced players on the team, Chapman and Gordon welcomed the opportunity to assume a leadership role. However, Chapman pointed out the veterans also learned from the rookies.
“Yes, as a captain and a third-player, there is a little different perspective, but you learn from everybody no matter what age they are,” said Chapman. “Every girl has something to teach and learn.”
Gordon noted this year’s edition of the Stars were fortunate to receive strong support from teammates, coaches and parents.
“This was an amazing year to finish (my minor hockey career) off with,” said Gordon. “I had a lot of fun and it’s a great group of girls to end it off with.”