U14 A Snipers claim silver at Waterloo tournament

The St. Marys Rotary Club-A.N.A.F. U14 A St. Marys Snipers took the silver medals at the Waterloo Ringette Association Winterfest Tournament Jan. 9-11. Pictured in the front row, from left to right, are Anna Hogan and Maelle Hachler. In the second row, from left, are Olivia McCutcheon, Lilly Garniss, Meredith Stokes, Madi McCutcheon, Rachel Mabon and Kyla Graham. In the second row, from left, are coach Christen Graham, head coach Kim Garniss, Sam Hamilton, Lily Johnston, Kenzie Shackleton and Mary McCutcheon. In the third row, from left, are Jordyn Schellenberger, trainer Laurie McCutcheon, Scarlett Gloor, Hadley Bolinger, coach Natalie Raey, coach Regan Frayne and coach Kacey Graham. Contributed photo

By Spencer Seymour

The St. Marys Rotary Club-A.N.A.F. U14 A St. Marys Snipers captured the silver medals at the Waterloo Ringette Association Winterfest Tournament Jan. 9-11.

Head coach Kim Garniss said the team delivered a very strong compete level throughout the weekend.

“They competed hard in every game and showed a lot of growth as the tournament went on,” Garniss said. “A consistent theme was our effort to keep the tempo high for the full game, which really helped drive our play and keep us going throughout the tournament. Their work ethic, support for one another and ability to stay focused and resilient stood out, and it was great to see them commit to playing with pace and purpose from start to finish.”

The Snipers emerged from the four-game round robin with a very solid 3-1 record, outscoring their opponents 21-4 in their three round-robin victories. Their strong round-robin results led St. Marys to a semi-final clash against the Arnprior Devils.

Kyla Graham opened the scoring less than a minute into the first period, with assists going to Rachel Mabon and Scarlett Gloor. Approximately eight minutes later, Hadley Bolinger found the back of the net, assisted by Madi McCutcheon and Lily Johnston. Arnprior responded under a minute later to cut the Snipers’ lead to one goal, but St. Marys held on for the rest of the contest to secure a 2-1 victory and a berth in the gold-medal game.

Garniss noted the team’s excellent defensive play was crucial to securing the semi-final win.

“The semi-final was a very tight, hard-fought game from start to finish,” said Garniss. “Our defence really set the tone for us. We spent stretches defending a three-on-two situation, and our defence and goaltending were outstanding in those moments, keeping us in the game when it mattered most. The girls stayed disciplined, coachable and committed to our structure, which allowed us to weather the pressure and capitalize on our chances.

“That defensive effort and resilience were a big reason we were able to come away with the win and earn a spot in the finals.”

That defensive play, along with their execution in the offensive zone, was, according to Garniss, some of the best play at both ends of the season.

“We really saw some of our practice work come together this weekend. Our defensive triangle and breakout play were strong and the girls did a great job supporting each other with quick, accurate passes. We also emphasize moving your feet and getting into open ice, and they executed that extremely well. Combined with strong low-post play in the offensive zone, it was some of our best execution all season.”

Though the Snipers didn’t come away with the top prize, Garniss credited the group for delivering a strong team performance all weekend.

“Goaltending was a huge part of our success throughout the weekend,” Garniss told the Independent. “Both Anna (Hogan) and Maelle (Hachler) were outstanding in all six games and really gave the team confidence on the back end. Their ability to make timely saves in key moments allowed the girls to play with pace and trust our system.

“Beyond that, one of the biggest themes was how different players stepped up when needed,” Garniss continued. “Every forward line and defensive pairing contributed in important moments, whether it was a key shift, a smart defensive play, or sustained pressure. It truly was a full team effort and that collective buy-in played a big role in getting us to the finals.”

Garniss added the team hopes the tournament finish boosts the group’s belief as they prepare for some of their most important games of the year.

“We hope this result builds confidence as we head into the final stretch of the season. We have one more qualifying tournament at the end of January, and the focus is on continuing to grow and finishing strong. This is our first year together as an A team, with players from St. Marys, Goderich and Mitchell, and the way they’ve come together and developed as a group has been really impressive.

“As the season has progressed, they’ve become more confident, more connected and more consistent in how they play,” Garniss continued. “Our goal has always been to compete for a spot at the All-Ontario Provincials, and they’ve really come together to show they’re a strong contender.”