Youthful Gemini girls’ hockey team enjoying this season, building for the future

Tillsonburg Gemini Lainey West (right) perseveres against a desperation swipe from Woodstock CI’s Annika Beaton (left). (Jeff Tribe Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Post Correspondent

A youthful Tillsonburg Gemini girls’ hockey team ran out of steam, not spirit through a 9-3 TVRA South East loss to the home-ice Woodstock CI Red Devils Tuesday, Feb. 4 in Woodstock.

“We started off strong, playing both ways,” said Gemini coach Ryan Sproul. “Then with a short bench, the girls ran out of gas and we did what we could with who we had.”

The first period was Tillsonburg’s best, the Gemini answering WCI’s offence through its majority. The Red Devils’ Emma Holm opened scoring with 6:25 to play, but Tillsonburg’s Gabby Ash countered just 31 seconds later, unassisted. The same pattern played out beginning with 3:30 left in the first, WCI’s Addison Trepanier scoring, and Gemini Sophia Monsere responding with 47 seconds left on the clock, assisted by Dayna Lester.

“Lots of passing,” credited Tillsonburg goalie Asha David for her squad’s strong start. “A good forecheck and hard backcheck.”

WCI defender Sierra Irwin gave her squad a 3-2 lead just 30 seconds later however, kicking off a four-goal run which essentially decided the outcome.

“They were skating at us hard,” said Gemini Kennedy Vandendriessche. “Didn’t give us much time.”

Vandendriessche broke off the Red Devils run, beating the second-period buzzer by 0.3 of a second. She went hard to the Red Devil net to bury an Ash rebound and make the score 6-3 at the time.

“Just skating hard and pressuring,” explained Vandendriessche, who also plays with the St. Thomas U15 girls’ squad.

Tillsonburg’s roster is a ‘mixed bag’ says coach Sproul, including those playing on girls’ hockey units in St. Thomas, London and Tillsonburg, as well as some recruited ringette players.

“We’re young,” he added, of Grade 9 student-athletes who make up half the team. “We’re looking to build off this year and keep going in the future.”

‘A good mindset’ has been important says David, who has enjoyed her high school hockey season.

Some girls are less experienced added Vandendriessche, also pleased with the opportunity for all to build experience and have fun together.

“We celebrate every game,” she said. “Stay positive.”

The Gemini closed out TVRA South East regular season play with a 1-5-1 record including a 2-2 tie against Ingersoll DCI and a 4-1 win over Woodstock Huron Park. Tillsonburg began Pool B round-robin semi-finals against Ingersoll Thursday, Feb. 13, with additional games scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 18 and Thursday, Feb. 20. The best-of-three winner will face the winner of a corresponding Aylmer East Elgin versus Huron Park semi-final series in the B Final.