Victory often is sweeter after tasting defeat.
By all accounts, the Fort Frances Atom girls’ hockey team got off to a slow start this season.
However, the Tigers persevered through their early-season struggles and were rewarded this past weekend when they finished third at an eight-team invitational tournament in Hibbing, Mn.
“This was a total team effort and we are very proud of the girls,” John Hazel Jr. said, speaking on behalf of fellow coaches Stuart McIvor and Tracy Coran.
“To us, this was like winning the Stanley Cup as we went winless at our last tournament in Kenora in November,” he noted.
The Tigers opened the tournament with a 5-3 over Rev Black (Minneapolis).
Kailey Greengrass led the charge offensively for the Tigers with a pair of goals while Taylor Hazel, Amy Penner, and Carly Steinke rounded out the scoring.
Shanleigh Fryer earned the win in goal.
The Tigers fell victim to a hot goalie in their second game of the tournament, losing 5-0 to Rev Green (Minneapolis).
However, the Tigers rebounded with a 4-2 victory over host Hibbing in the ‘A’ consolation final.
Kendal Bruyere had given the Tigers an early 1-0 lead, but Hibbing responded with a pair of markers of their own and led 2-1 heading into the final period.
Three unanswered goals by Danielle Jackson, Jessica Coran, and Carly Steinke in a five-minute span of the third gave the Tigers a 4-2 lead.
Down two goals late in the game, Hibbing pressed but were turned aside time and again by Fryer. The Tiger goalie shone between the pipes despite being quite ill.
The Tigers hope to keep the momentum gained from their strong showing in Hibbing rolling as they prepare for their home tournament Feb. 17-19.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
