In a display of perseverance and teamwork, a pared down Dunlop Fuels and Rintoul’s Pools and Spa Atom Girls team made it to the semi-finals in the Durham Tournament on Saturday February 13.
Short a few players, the Atom Girls ended up going with two forward lines and three defensive players in this tournament. With only nine skaters, the team knew they would be counting on goalie, Alyssa Trumbley, to make some big saves for the team. And, boy, did she deliver!
Facing Walkerton in their first game, the Storm had lots of scoring chances but came up a little short. Trumbley was called upon early to make some key saves to keep Walkerton off the scoreboard.
In the first few minutes of play, Marley Scott, Tori Janes and Jamie Miller made some nice passing plays leading to hard shots on net by Miller and Janes but the Walkerton goalie stopped all attempts.
In the second, Fiona Miller coming off the bench on a line change picked up a loose puck in the Walkerton zone and fired a shot from the point but the goalie made a stick save. Next shift, the line of Tori Sutter, Jolina McLean and Fiona Miller continued the offensive pressure culminating in a backhand shot by McLean from the slot that narrowly missed, hitting the post.
Finally Sarah Bester was sprung loose on a breakaway. Her initial shot was blocked but the goalie gave up a big rebound. On the ensuing scramble, Tori Sutter collected the puck from behind the net passing it to Bester who shot the puck home to put the first tally on the scoreboard for the Storm.
With only 45 seconds left in the second period, Walkerton managed to find a way past Trumbley to tie the game at one apiece.
Trumbley entertained the fans in the third with some awesome goaltending including a spectacular breakaway save at 8:45. Despite a good effort by the Storm, Walkerton managed to get another one past Trumbley in the third to go up by one.
Throughout the game the three defensemen, Ainsley Harron, Sarah Bester and Taylor Ferguson worked both ends of the ice tirelessly. Ferguson applied defensive pressure to keep the puck in the Walkerton end to give the Storm scoring chances. At the other end, Harron, in tremendous displays of backchecking, chased down the Walkerton players knocking the puck off their sticks to avert breakaway opportunities. Bester, an offensive defenseman, continued to capitalize on Walkerton mistakes culminating with a breakaway chance to tie the game with two minutes left, but the Walkerton goalie made the save.
At the final buzzer, the score remained two goals to one for Walkerton. Coach Jenna Underwood awarded Jolina McLean the Player of the Game Award for her strong offensive play.
In the second game of the tournament, the Storm faced Beaver Valley who had defeated Walkerton 4-0 earlier in the day.
The Storm came out of the gate with a great offensive start. From the opening faceoff, Fiona Miller got her stick on the puck, firing a hard shot on net setting the tone for the game. Only a minute later, Sarah Bester, assisted by Marley Scott and Jamie Miller, scored from the blue line putting the puck glove side to net the Storm’s first goal of the game.
With the Storm mounting an offensive press, Beaver Valley had a few breakaway opportunities. Taylor Ferguson stole any goal scoring chances from the opposition by chasing down players, steering them to the corners and poke checking the puck away before Beaver Valley had a chance to shoot. Any shots on net were pounced on by goaltender Trumbley who continued to be solid in net.
Throughout the game Storm forwards showed a lot of hustle being first to the puck and winning battles in the corners. Jamie Miller and Tori Janes continued to coordinate in the second period producing a great backhand shot on the net by Miller which hit the post and a quick shot from the slot by Janes that was gloved by the goalie.
Jolina McLean nearly put the Storm ahead by two with a point-blank shot on net but the Beaver Valley goalie made a huge stick save. Tori Sutter’s tenacious digging in front of the net also produced some great scoring chances, but the puck just wouldn’t go in.
In the final minute of the second period, the crowd watched as Janes came flying down the left wing on a breakaway. She got off a hard shot but the Beaver Valley goalie had the angle covered.
The third period was marked by back-and-forth play by both teams. Alyssa Trumbley kept her team ahead six minutes into the period when she made a diving save on a breakaway to rob Beaver Valley of a great scoring chance. Showing signs of fatigue, but boosted by the solid play of their goalie, the Storm fought hard to finish the third ahead by one.
One goal was enough to give the Storm the win and send them to the semi-finals. Player of the Game Award went to Tori Janes. In the spirit of good sportsmanship and team play, Janes shared the award with goalie, Alyssa Trumbley, who chalked up her first shutout of the season.
The Storm played their third and final game a mere 30 minutes later against the host team Durham. Despite a good effort, the shortened bench and back to back games caught up to the Atom girls who were downed 5 to 0 and eliminated from the tournament. Player of the Game was awarded to Sarah Bester who played both a strong offensive and defensive game.
After a great day of hockey, a weary bunch of girls headed back to Saugeen Shores on Saturday accompanied by parents and family members who couldn’t have been more proud of them.