Joey Payeur
Todd Hamilton isn’t apologizing for his team turning the season’s annual opening tournament into its personal stomping ground.
Make it six-straight championship titles for the Muskie girls’ hockey team at the eight-team Husky Classic in Winnipeg after a 4-1 win over the Lord Selkirk Royals in the gold-medal game Sunday.
“There was lots of cross-checking not being called and a lot of stickwork not being called,” noted Hamilton, now entering his second season as head coach of the black-and-gold.
“The girls really maintained their composure even when they were getting beat on,” he lauded.
“No one wants you to win there after you have won it that many times in a row.
“It’s not an easy thing to do to go back and repeat, and by no means are any of the games easy games,” Hamilton stressed.
“It’s a testament to the girls.”
There was no scoring until the second period, when Grade 9 rookie Jillian Calder netted a rebound of Jessica Steele’s original shot for a 1-0 Muskie lead.
The Royals tied things up one minute into the third—the only time they would beat veteran starting goalie Syd Beck.
A little puck luck went Fort High’s way shortly thereafter when Kelsey Langtry’s shot from a tough angle was stopped but then accidentally put into the net by one of the Royals.
Siobhan Mackintosh and Taylor Croswell, assisted by Jenna Clendenning, later tallied to seal the victory.
The Muskies almost had their streak end in their first game Thursday before Annalise (CC) Hayes scored her second goal of the game with only .5 seconds on the clock to pull out a 3-3 tie with the Shaftesbury Titans.
Croswell had the other Muskie goal while Grade 9 rookie Kamryn Sandelovich stepped up big with 17 saves in her high school debut in place of an ailing Beck.
“Being the first game, the kids are always nervous and you don’t know what to expect from them,” Hamilton admitted.
“We made some mistakes but all in all, I’m happy with the effort we had,” he added.
The Muskie muscles were flexing in their second game, though, as they used a four-goal first period to dump the Oak Park Raiders 6-1.
Mackintosh and Calder each netted a pair of goals while Abby Plourde and Hayes had one apiece.
The returning Beck only had to make nine saves for the win.
“The Calder line with Langtry and [Reece] McQuaker are really starting to figure out how to attack in the offensive zone,” noted Hamilton.
“Jill’s biggest asset is she does not stop,” he added.
“She goes to the net with lots of energy and her infectious enthusiasm is nice for the other players to have around.”
Up next was the Sioux Lookout Warriors, who indicated they won’t be the pushover in NorWOSSA play like in seasons past by limiting Fort High to a 3-0 victory.
“I think Sioux Lookout is really going to give people fits,” predicted Hamilton, who got goals from Hayes, Janelle Kaemingh, and Langtry.
Sandelovich had 14 stops to earn her first career shutout.
“They were on us every time we got the puck and their goalie [Kyla Kulchyski] was excellent,” Hamilton said.
“They gave us all we could handle.”
By topping Pool #1, the Muskies faced the Vincent Massey Trojans—the second-place team from Pool #2—in the semi-finals.
After falling behind 1-0 deficit, the black-and-gold responded with four unanswered tallies in a 4-1 triumph.
Croswell and Mackintosh notched second-period goals while Hayes buried two in the third on set-ups from Kaemingh.
Beck made several huge stops among the 19 she saved.
“Vincent Massey is one of the top teams in Winnipeg, and [they] move the puck well and are big and strong,” Hamilton remarked.
“They took it to us in the first and we had to be on our game to battle back.
“Syd played an excellent game, especially in the first,” he added.
“When we needed saves, she was there.”
Up next is this weekend’s second-annual Scott Clendenning Memorial Showcase, named in honour of the former Muskie head coach who passed away suddenly in March of last year.
“We do this to remember our good friend,” said Hamilton, referring to his former Muskie teammate and coach.
“Last year, there was a pretty high degree of sadness,” he admitted. “It was even hard to put on the equipment or be on the bench.
“But we know now this year it’s OK for us to have some laughs and fun thoughts about Scott while we’re there.”
Seven teams will take part in the event.
Fort High will face the Thunder Bay Fury on Friday at 7:15 p.m., then square off against the Thunder Bay Midget ‘AAA’ Queens on Saturday at noon before playing the Portage Collegiate Institute Saints (Portage la Prairie, Man.) at 6 p.m.
Their final game will go Sunday around 2 p.m. against the Dryden Eagles, who have lost to the Muskies in the NorWOSSA final the past three seasons.
“It’s about trying to promote girls’ hockey for being a great game and exciting to watch,” Hamilton explained in why no tournament champion is crowned at the Showcase.
“It’s great for the kids themselves because when they’re part of a team, they’re part of it for life and the memories can be unbelievable,” he added.
“That’s what Scott was all about.”
