Tillsonburg Gemini hockey girls make their point

Gemini forward Sophia Monsere crashes into Stampeders’ goalie Brooklyn Smith in front of Parkside’s Regan Reene, with Tillsonburg’s Brooklyn Malott honing in on the puck. Malott would it in the net, but her ‘goal’ was immediately waved off. (Jeff Tribe Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Post Correspondent

The Tillsonburg Gemini girls’ hockey team made their point.

“Finally!” said goalie Asha David following a 0-0 Thames Valley Regional Athletics Southeast split against the St. Thomas Parkside Stampeders Thursday, Feb. 5 at the Memorial Arena.

David was full value for the tie, stopping all of the estimated 20 shots she faced en route to the shutout.

“Asha really holds us together out there,” credited Gemini teammate Lainey West. An AA and AAA ringette player headed for Ontario Winter Games in Orillia in that sport, West enjoys making it out to as many hockey games as she can, around the academic responsibilities of her Grade 12 year.

West added an additional transition beyond ringette to hockey on this day, making a guest appearance in goal with 1:48 remaining in the third period to help lock up the goalless draw, and Tillsonburg’s first point of the TVRA Southeast season.

“Kind of stopped it with my leg,” said West. “Just dove down, tried to play goalie for a second - Asha was getting peppered.

“I’m lower to the ground, it’s easier for me to get down there,” West added with a laugh.

The first (15-minute) period ended without a goal, as did the second. The third continued without a blemish on the scoresheet, the Gemini unable to capitalize on two two-minute power plays. As the clock wound down, the Stampeders’ lengthier bench became a factor. A Tillsonburg squad essentially running four defenders and two lines with a spare forward mixed in was increasingly pressured, circling the wagons to a degree in front of their beleaguered netminder.

“I feel bad because at the end of the game, it’s all on the goalie,” said West. “You’ve got to help her out a little bit.”

“I get so nervous,” David admitted, “especially when that red helmet (opponent) comes blazing near me.”

A team can’t feel bad when it plays its hardest and doesn’t come up with a win said West. But after an 0-5 start including two tight, one-goal losses, it was nice to put at least one point into the standings, encouragement for more as the regular season wraps up. It was scheduled to conclude with a Monday, Feb. 9 home date against the Ingersoll DCI Blue Bombers and a Tuesday, Feb. 10 road trip to Dorchester.

“Next time, I’m going to take her spot in net and she’s going out and scoring some goals,” West concluded with a laugh.

“Hat-trick,” David smiled.

TVRA basketball and volleyball playoffs were scheduled to begin Tuesday, Feb. 10. The Gemini senior girls’ volleyball team and the senior and junior boys’ basketball teams are stacked up in a 1:30 p.m. 9 vs. 8 preliminary-round, 3 p.m. 5 vs. 4 quarter-final and 4:30 p.m. 10 vs. 7 preliminary round triple-header against Woodstock St. Mary’s, Woodstock Huron Park and Huron Park, respectively. The Gemini junior girls’ volleyball squad was to host Parkside in a 3 p.m. 5 vs. 4 quarter-final Thursday February 12 inside the Glendale Community Gym.

The Gemini girls’ curling team is also looking forward to a post-season match, hitting the Ingersoll Curling Club ice Wednesday, Feb. 18 for a TVRA semi-final against an opponent, still to be determined.