Norfolk HERicanes U15s edged in season opener
Chris Abbott
Editor
Norfolk HERicanes U15 girls house hockey team started its GHGHL season ‘on fire’ – Karaline Mallett scored just five minutes into Sunday’s season opener at the Talbot Arena in Simcoe, slamming home a rebound off a shot from Tennley Dumoulin.
“We looked so much faster than them in that first period,” said HERicanes coach Gerry Dumoulin. “So every period, the reminder was, ‘We’re a fast team - we’re a fast team, just show them how fast you are…’”
The HERicanes carried the one-goal lead into a back-and-forth third period when the Port Colborne Wave equalized short-handed at 10:45. The Wave scored the 2-1 game-winner with 6:36 left to play.
“We had them on the ropes and we just couldn’t put those goals away, unfortunately,” said Dumoulin. “We had a lot of opportunities, it’s just that goalie played a great game.”
Dumoulin, who coached last year’s U13 team, this year has a combined U13-U15 house league team in the 16-team U15 Greater Hamilton Girls Hockey League.
“For a lot of these girls, it was their first game as a HERicane… or their first hockey game. Hazel (Stackhouse) had her first game of hockey, ever. She got to carry the puck, she got a shot, and she made a pass. It was a great game for her.”
HERicanes goalie Sophia Howe had to be sharp in the third, keeping it a one-goal game. The home team had some chances in the final six minutes, nearly batting the puck across the line from the crease with less than a minute to play.
“There were some close ones, we were right there,” Dumoulin said. “It was a lot of fun.”
Spirits were good after game, he added.
“The important part in the room is that it didn’t feel like a loss after the game, the girls were in great spirits. They had a good time. I think that’s kind of the best part about it – they just having a great time. Every single game, that’s the goal. We start every practice with fun, then we work from there.”
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