From team trainer Laurie Briggs comes word the Midget Female North Island Extreme turned in a strong showing at the second annual Haley Wickenhauser International Women’s Hockey Festival.
Played out at Burnaby 8 Rinks Nov. 18-21, over 1,000 young women from across Canada and the U.S. in Novice up through Midget converged on Burnaby for the ‘Wickfest, and the Extreme, which pencil in players from Chemainus up to Campbell River including three locals — Celin Tardiff, Tianna Squire, and net-minder Maddie Meyers, all under head coach Louise Geneau from Comox — were in their element.
According to Briggs, the first game saw the Extreme come out strong as they beat the Kelowna Rockets 6-3. Dayna Briggs led the way with a hat trick. Ashlynn Mottershead, Scotia Bellevance and Haley Hall also tallied for the Extreme.
Taylor Buell backstopping the squad with a solid performance in net.
In game two the Extreme duelled the Surrey Falcons to a 1-1 draw. Chelsea Diehl scored for the Extreme to tie it.
Oceanside Minor Hockey product Maddie Meyers was the goalie in that one.
In game three the Extreme had to work had to earn a 3-2 win over the Washington Wild.
Scotia Bellavance staked the Extreme to a 1-0 lead, then the Wild tied it up.
Ashlynn Mottershead scored at the end of the period to put the Extreme up 2-1. Briggs scored her second of the game to up it to 3-1 in the second stanza and the Wild scored at the end of the period which is how it stood.
Earning props for her defensive play was Celine Tardiff.
The Extreme placed second in the finals against the Kelowna Rockets.
On Nov. 25-27, the team was in Kamloops where they made it to the semifinal in the annual Mystixs Midget A Girls hockey tournament.
There were two divisions of four teams each — the Extreme were in the A division.
At that tournament, the Extreme clobbered Kelowna 6-1 in their opener, played Surrey to another 1-1 draw in game two, and in game three they doubled up the Salmon Arm Ravens 4-2?? which left them first in pool play.
In the Sunday morning semifinal they lost 3-2 to Salmon Arm.
It was, said Briggs, “a good game until one of our top players got badly injured (out until at least January with an MCL injury).”
GAME ON
The Extreme are back in action Saturday in Victoria against the South Island Breakers (the only other Midget A girls team on the Island) and travel to Comox on Sunday.