Chilliwack’s young female hockey players are still glowing on this International Women’s Day as two teams took home the championship banners after wins in their final game.
On March 3, the U13 team won their final playoff game 4-1 against the team from Langley, then on March 6 the U15 girls wouldn’t be outdone as they took their final in a 4-0 win against Tri-Cities.
The U13 team was in a tight three-way race for top spot with Whistler and Langley going down the stretch. The Chilliwack girls made it to the final with a hard-fought tie against Whistler. They ended up split with Langley with the same number of points based on overall wins, but because of the playoff structure Chilliwack sat in second and had to play the final as an away game.
“The championship game was truly a team effort,” coach Sean Wicker said. “Every girl contributed in a positive manner which led to us coming back from a 1-0 deficit. Emma Kinar continued to shut the door in goal after giving up the first goal. Our defence was solid in our own end and Chelsey Allen was able to contribute on the scoresheet with an excellent shot from the point. Our forwards were excellent in all three zones and Nadège Henderson sparked the team with her first goal and then sealed the deal with the empty-netter.”
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As for the U15 girls, coach Scott Street said they were the underdogs but battled hard all season for the banner. After the regular season the U15 girls were moved up a flight to play North Shore, Ridge Meadows and Tri-Cities. Of the four teams in the flight, they had only beaten North Shore, and they had never beaten Tri-Cities.
“We were the underdogs in the division for sure,” Street said.
In fact, leading up to the final game, Street’s team had scored just one goal in four games against Tri-Cities.
“To come out 4-0 is really an amazing credit to the mental toughness of our U15 girls.
“They faced down giant and won.”
Both Wicker and Street had nothing but great things to say about the teams and the support from the female hockey families.
“All of the girls and families bought in to our philosophy around games and practices,” Wicker said. “Because of this buy in we were able to grow both as individuals and as a team. This growth made us the best passing and team play group in our flight. This team play resulted in the girls winning the banner.”
Street said his team set the goal early in the year to win the banner.
“They came into the banner game mentally ready, and executed the plan perfectly,” he said. “To a player, they literally all had their best game of the year. I hope the girls feel an immense amount of pride and satisfaction for what they have achieved as a team and for each other.”
Wicker added that a great support and role model for his U13 girls was assistant coach Katie Wardell who played minor hockey in Chilliwack before joining the Fraser Valley Rush, a U18 female AAA team. She played for the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Trojans in Calgary, and back in Chilliwack she now plays in the local co-ed 19-plus league.
”She is a tremendous role model for our female players and they can see where female players can go after minor hockey.”
Both groups of girls have been invited for the ceremonial puck drop at the Chilliwack Chiefs game this Friday, March 11.
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Speaking of female hockey, the Chilliwack Minor Hockey Association (CMHA) has planned a free “Female Learn to Play” event on March 28, 29, 30, and 31.
The CMHA has partnered with Beaudies Warrior Academy of Hockey, Ringette & Skating for this four-day event. They will be providing the on-ice coach developers for all the girls. This is a great event for anyone looking to try female hockey. No skating experience is required, basic equipment needed: skates, a helmet, neck guard, gloves and a stick.
This program is not intended for current female players but is for aspiring athletes to give it a try.
The event is at the Sardis Sports Complex, 5725 Tyson Rd., running 3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. each day. It’s for girls in birth years 2007 to 2017, and there is no cost.
To register and for more details and to find out about gear, email femaledirector@chilliwackminorhockey.com.
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