Fort Frances and district residents will be in for a rare treat this weekend when an exhibition women’s hockey tournament comes to the Ice for Kids Arena this Saturday and Sunday.
Two top teams from Thunder Bay and Winnipeg will face off against each other, as well as an all-star collection from Northwestern Ontario, in what organizer Clint Barton promises will be a “showcase of women’s hockey talent.”
The idea behind the tournament, said Barton, is to raise the profile of women’s hockey in the district—to give young girls here something to shoot for.
“The idea is for the little girls to see the big girls play hockey and how exciting it can be,” said Barton, whose daughter plays for the Thunder Bay Queens Midget team.
The Queens already have clinched a berth in the Ontario Winter Games next month in London, where they will be representing Northern Ontario after disposing of the Sault Ste. Marie Wildcats and the Sudbury Lady Wolves in Hearst back in December.
Their 3-0-1 record was good enough to give them the chance to play for provincial honours against the other seven top Midget teams in Ontario.
The Queens have had their share of international experience, as well. Back in November, they captured the prestigious Thoroughbred Tournament in St. Paul, Mn., downing the host Thoroughbreds 1-0 in the final.
Queens coach Bob Baird said the Thoroughbreds consistently are one of the top teams in Minnesota and have captured the state championship several times.
To top off the year, the Queens took the Sault Wildcat Tournament in a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory over a highly-rated Detroit Honeybaked team in December.
With a season record of 16-1-3 to date, Baird said Fort Frances can expect to see top-calibre women’s hockey this weekend.
Certainly the Queens will have their hands full against the team from the University of Winnipeg, which brings some solid credentials of its own to the arena.
The team consists of players from the university as well as several younger players from the collegiate level. Team manager Rick Heuchert agreed fans can expect to see some of the best women’s hockey going.
“We’re a good all-round team,” Heuchert said in a telephone interview from Winnipeg last week. “Expect to see a quick and skilled team and very good goaltending,” he added.
Heuchert’s team also has tangled with the Thoroughbreds as well as the best club teams in Manitoba. And as a result, they will be going to Sherwood Park, Alta. in March to compete in the Esso women’s national championship.
Heuchert said he’s looking forward to playing in Fort Frances for a number of reasons. “We want to help promote women’s hockey and we want a good tune-up before the nationals,” he remarked.
So how do the two favourites stack up? Baird thinks it’s just about even money.
“We’re looking for a good game,” he said. “They’ll [U. of W.] be older and wiser, but we should be a little quicker.”
And what about the third team? The Northwest Stars consist primarily of Midget-aged (under 17) players with a couple of Bantams thrown in.
Stars coach Dennis Calder also coaches the Pinewood Blades of the local girls’ Bantam league and he knows he will be at a disadvantage since his squad won’t have much time to practice as a unit.
So far, he’s assembled 13 skaters and one goalie, but still is hoping to pick up at least one more on defence.
“They’re [the opposition] going to be very good, but we’ve got some good players, too,” he offered.
Calder said he has commitments from five players from Dryden and also will be bringing up Nina Bird, Carly Holt, and Melissa Calder from his Blades squad.
Although the odds are against them, Calder promises a competitive effort from his team. “It’s going to be intense out there,” he vowed.
The Stars will find out just how intense Saturday at 7 p.m. when they take on the Queens. The main event goes Sunday at 1 p.m. when the Queens face the U. of W.
Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for students. Kids under 12 will be admitted free when accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Tickets are available at Skates and Blades and Taggs Source for Sports here as well as at KGB Sports in Rainy River.
(Fort Frances Times)
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
