Staff
The Fort Frances Timbits girls’ Novice hockey team took the top prize at the Kathy Sanders Memorial hockey tournament in Dryden with a 6-1 win over the Thunder Bay Canadians in Sunday’s final.
Annalise Hayes led the attack with five goals while Maighyn DeGagne added the other one.
The squad advanced to the final thanks to a convincing 10-2 win over the Kenora Blackcats in the semi-finals.
Taylor Steinke and Hayes each scored four goals apiece in that one. Breanna Dustin scored on a breakaway, with DeGagne netting the other goal.
Kelsey “Digger” Langtry was impressive with her hard work in the corners, adding a pair of assists.
The squad, coached by Pat Langtry and Pete LeDrew, opened action Friday with a 6-1 win over the Thunder Bay Sabres.
DeGagne and Hayes led the way with two goals apiece while Hanna LeDrew converted on a rebound.
Breanna Eldridge also scored a beauty of a goal—racing down the ice on a breakaway before backhanding a rising shot into the corner of the net over the Sabres’ goalie.
The girls then continued their winning ways with a 6-1 win over the host Dryden squad. Hayes once again had the hot hand, scoring four goals, while Meghan Bruyere and DeGagne notched the others.
Carly Rae Beazley came close twice to scoring but was foiled by the Dryden goalie.
The Timbits wrapped up the round-robin portion of the tournament with a 4-2 win over Kenora “Red.”
Hayes pumped in another four goals to pace the local attack as Kenora’s goalie kept her team in the game throughout—even forcing Timbits to come back from an early first-period deficit.
Timbits was missing three players for the weekend, which forced them to play shorthanded on defence, but the entire team worked hard to keep the puck out of the defensive zone in claiming gold.
Hailey Tucker and Kamryn Singleton did an excellent job with relentless forechecking and offensive pressure while Jamie Steel had a great game—and nearly was rewarded when her shot rang off the post.
McKenna Watson, meanwhile, was stellar in goal for four of the five games, allowing just five goals over that span. Steinke suited up in the net for the other.
Timbits tallied an impressive total of 32 goals over the weekend. Hayes led the way with 19 while DeGagne chipped in with five and Steinke netted four.
Adding a goal each were Dustin, Eldridge, LeDrew, and Bruyere.
Player of the Game awards were given to Kamryn Singleton, LeDrew, Hayes, Steinke, and DeGagne. “Hustle Awards” were given to Dustin, Langtry, Singleton, Bruyere, and Watson.
Both Maddy Morrison and Macy Weir are expected to be back for the team’s home tourney coming up Feb. 13-15. Callie DeGagne, meanwhile, will be returning from a holiday on the beach in a week’s time.
In other news, Coach LeDrew had to consume five lemons afterwards—for the viewing pleasure of the team—after a promise he had made prior to the tournament.
