By Chris Abbott
Editor
Sunday’s Norfolk HERicanes U18B hockey playdown at Talbot Gardens in Simcoe was a must win hockey game.
“We needed one point to tie and two to secure first place,” said Hericanes U18B coach Mike Wilson.
On the line was a berth in the OWHA provincial championship tournament.
Norfolk took a 2-1 late in the first period on a penalty shot, after a skater had covered the puck in the crease with her hand, and it proved to be the winner against the six-skater Hamilton Hawks.
“That was a tough one, the girl probably didn’t mean to do that,” said Wilson. “But the refs will call that.”
The Hericanes added a second-period goal, then wrapped up a 5-1 victory with a pair late in the third.
The game had originally been scheduled Friday in Hamilton, but that was forfeited because there were no refs. A protest was launched by another South Division team, and the Norfolk-Hamilton game had to be played last-minute in Simcoe.
“A little bit of drama, fortunately it worked out for us.”
The Hericanes had finished third in the OWH South Division regular season standings with a 9-5-8 record behind Oakville (20-2-0) and Cazenovia-Buffalo (15-7-0). But they were undefeated (4-0-2) in the playdowns.
“We’re very proud of that,” Wilson smiled, noting the top two South teams in playdowns - Norfolk and Stoney Creek - advance to U18B provincials. “The girls did well.”
The HERicanes organization will be sending four or their five B/BB teams to the April 11-13 provincial tournament in the GTA area, including the 18BB, 15B and Senior teams.
“That’s a really good showing, outstanding,” said Wilson. “It’s great, especially for a small centre. We go to a lot of centres like Stoney Creek, St. Catharines, Oakville, and they have A, AA, BB… they’ve got hundreds of girls that try out. We have ‘who shows up.’”
It will be an exciting tournament, he said.
“Two of our girls have never been to provincials, so this will be a great chance for them to play for a championship in their final U18 year. One has been a Hericane pretty well all the way through.
“I’d like to think our chance is as good as anybody… you had to win your way there. We have a good, competitive team. There should be some good teams there, so it all depends if you show up and play your game. We just have to play our game plan. The girls are going to give it all they can, try their best, try to make Norfolk proud.
“We’re proud of everyone here,” Wilson concluded, “and we’re excited for the challenge.”
Comments