Robinson golden goal ‘Silver’ for Ponting Financial Group U11 Wildcats

The International Silver Stick Girls’ C champion Woodstock Wildcats U11 girls. Nora Dorie and Jade Thompson are in the front row, left to right. In the second row, are Annabelle Smith, Jade Davidson, Emrie Snow sell, Abby Streatch, Lauren Clark and Ruthie Wilson. In the third row, are Isla Hons, Reilly O’Leary, Addie Gill, Emma Ponting, Faye Dorie, Cassie Ward, Jenna Hamulecki, McKinley Robinson and Elyse Ward. The coaching staff in the back row includes Courtney Davidson, Michelle Ponting, Bryan Smith (head coach), Tom Gill and Jeff Ponting (absent). (Jeff Tribe Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Echo Correspondent

McKinley Robinson’s Silver Stick golden goal capped a dramatic come-from-behind International C championship for the Woodstock Wildcats Ponting Financial Group U11 girls in December at the Port Elgin Arena.

“They were all super excited,” said coach Bryan Smith of the overtime game and tournament-winning tally in a 4-3 final victory over the Wingham 86ers. “Tons of cheering, throwing their gloves in the air.”

Robinson’s game-winner came in three-on-three overtime, pouncing on a puck cleared outside the Wildcats zone following an unsuccessful pinch by an 86ers defender. The tension built said coach Smith as Robinson skated in alone on the Wingham goalie.

“And put it short side, top shelf.”

Robinson also jump-started the Wildcats from a 2-0 first-period deficit. Having skated through round-robin and semi-final play not only undefeated but without giving up a goal, Woodstock found itself in an unfamiliar position in the final against a squad from the other side of the draw it had neither previously seen nor faced.

“A very strong-skating team,” credited Smith. “Heavy on the forecheck for sure.”

The Wildcats’ coaching staff’s approach of taking each game period by period was a factor in their favour.

“We don’t always win the game from the first to the third,” explained Smith, whose message between the first and second frames was to get back to their game, the puck on their sticks and off the 86ers’, all three lines rolling and contributing.

“We have to work hard, keep the pressure up and play Wildcats hockey,” he summarized.

Woodstock showed its resilience said Smith, with Robinson’s first goal proving a catalyst. Lauren Clark set it up off a draw in the 86ers zone, winning a face-off cleanly back to her teammate.

“McKinley ripped it from the top of the circles,” said Smith of a marker which boosted the Wildcats’ energy both on the ice and the bench. “That first goal really helped pick it up.”

Wingham restored its two-goal lead, however Elyse Ward replied for Woodstock with 5:34 to play in the second and Isla Hons got the Wildcats back even 2:05 later, on an assist to Robinson.

The third period played out without a goal, sending the contest into an overtime session Woodstock had prepared for, albeit painfully, through a semi-final overtime loss during a Remembrance Day tournament in Fergus.

“I think we took it as a good learning experience,” said Smith. “We wanted to remember what happened last time, but not let it weigh us down.”

Apart from gold medals, a trophy and a banner, the girls are extremely excited to sign and hang in Woodstock’s Civic Centre Arena, the Silver Stick tournament had been thoroughly enjoyable said Smith, including a Friday evening skills (skating, shot accuracy and goalie) competition.

“There was a lot of fun stuff.”

Woodstock opened with a 9-0 shutout win over the Belmont Blazers. Cassie Ward had a hat trick to lead the winners; Ruthie Wilson and Clark each had two goals and an assist, Robinson had two goals, and Hons had one assist.

The Wildcats kept rolling with a 10-0 win over the Kincardine Kinucks, paced offensively by Robinson’s hat-trick plus an assist performance. Hons added two goals, Clark a goal and two assists, Wilson and Jenna Hamulecki a goal and an assist apiece, Abigail Streatch and Ward one goal each, Faye Dorie two assists and Emma Ponting and Annabella Smith one helper each.

Woodstock closed out round-robin play undefeated on Dec. 14 on the strength of a 5-0 shutout of the Walkerton Capitals. Robinson finished with two goals, Ward, Clark and Wilson one apiece and Hamulecki one assist.

The Wildcats returned to the Southampton Coliseum the following morning for a repeat bout with the Capitals, advancing to the final with another 5-0 shutout. Robinson finished with a hat-trick and an assist, Hons and Wilson a goal each, Clark three assists and Ponting and Smith one apiece.

The Silver Stick title represents a major goal for the U11 Wildcats, looking ahead to their home tournament early in January and Western Ontario Girls Hockey League (WOGHL) playoffs towards the end of the month. Woodstock’s pre-Christmas league record stood at 10-2-0 said Smith, who is also anticipating round-robin Provincial C championship preliminaries beginning at the end of January. It is his understanding the top two of seven teams qualify for the provincial tournament, hosted this year in the GTA.

“Super excited to win the Silver Stick and now turning our focus to WOGHL playoffs and hopefully qualifying for the provincials.”