Nova Scotia Bantam AAs win provincial title
PICTOU, N.S. – The Fundy Highland Subway Selects are Nova Scotia female bantam AA provincial champions.
The Selects skated to a hardfought 1-0 win over the Metro West Force White team out of Halifax on March 10.
With the win, the Selects will represent Nova Scotia at the Atlantic championship tournament, to be held in Clarenville N.L. April 4-7.
In the provincial final, Ellie Clarke got her stick on a pass from Emily Hart. Clarke directed the puck to the net where it went off a MWF player and into the net for the game’s only goal. MWF pulled their goalie late in the third but could not get out of their own end, as the Selects pinned them in.
Game MVP was goaltender Gabby Arsenault, who earned her third shutout of the tournament.
The Selects, who finished second in regular season play, started off the tournament facing the MWF White team who finished first by one point. Metro West won this game 1-0, which was a very balanced game. MVP honours for the Selects went to Bree MacPherson.
In Game 2 on Friday evening, the Selects played Metro East Inferno and won 1-0. The lone goal was scored short-handed by Olivia Fitt off a face-off win by Megan Smith. Arsenault earned the shutout and Smith was game MVP.
Game 3 on Saturday morning was against the host team Cape Breton Blizzard. The Selects won 3-0 with goals coming from Madison Beson, Hart and Fitt. Arsenault earned her second shutout and Sarah Fraser was game MVP.
Finishing off the round robin, the Selects faced the Cape Breton West Islanders in a must-win situation. The locals took the lead early in this game and went on to win 5-1, earning a shot at the provincial title.
Fitt had a hat trick and singles went to to Julia MacDonald and Jaylen Langille.
The Selects would face the MWF White team on Sunday morning.
Awards given out at the banquet March 16 included
2nd Team Allstar Defence: Julia MacDonald
1st Team Allstar Defence: Josie Dunn
1st Team Allstar Forward: Erin MacNeil
Top Forward: Madison Beson Top Goalie: Gabby Arsenault Top Scorer: Olivia Fitt Fastest Skater: Erin MacNeil Puck Handling: Baillie Griffon