Under 13 (U13) - U13-C
Storm Watch: 5th Edition
Storm Watch: 5th Edition
Game #1: Saturday October 15, 2022- A Clash of Storms
What is the difference between a Storm and a Cyclone? This Saturday, it was exactly 3 goals. Two weather systems collided in Carleton Place this Saturday when the undefeated Kemptville Storm met the Carleton Place Cyclones in U13 league play- the Cyclones themselves, coming off a 3-1 win over the Nepean Wild Cats. Tensions were high as the two teams took to the ice. Cheers rocked the very foundation of the Carleton Place Arena. With a nearly full line-up, the Cyclones set out to prove that last Saturday's win was no fluke.
Katie Chase got the game going with an early goal from the frying pan- her newly formed line demonstrating their presence quickly in the first period. Daria Sullivan and Meredith Clarke had the helpers. Not even a minute later, Ava McGarry got on the board- jumping on a quick rebound shot by Shaelin Chalmers. Lila Faris adding the other helper. A post-game interview revealed that Ava's goal was a gift for her mother's birthday.
Everything was working out for the Cyclones in the first period until a brief breakdown ended up with the puck getting by goaltender Josie Halayko. Josie would remain solid and made sure nothing else made it into the net for the rest of the game; but the intensity rose as the game changed to a one-goal difference.
The second period was all Cyclones. Daria Sullivan netted a beautiful goal after receiving a perfect pass from Katie Chase. The newly formed group making their mark yet again! The bench breathed a collective sigh of relief as the lead once again widened to two goals.
The final hit came midway through the third period when Shaelin Chalmers broke free from a corner battle with the puck and put home a remarkable backhand wrap around. From there, the Cyclones kept the pressure on and held the Storm at bay. Defense did their jobs to keep Kemptville to the outside and the girls maintained their intensity until the final buzzer.
Coaches talked about intensity before the game. They talked about seizing opportunities in the frying pan. They talked about battling and jumping on rebounds. The Cyclones did all that and more. Nothing could stand in the path of the Cyclones!
Player of the Game: Katie Chase
Game #2: Sunday October 16, 2022- A Tale of Two Teams
The Carleton Place U13C Cyclones rolled into Glengarry Sports Palace on Sunday riding a two-game win-streak. Saturday's game found the team in a groove. They were first to the puck, aggressive in the corners, and they capitalized on their chances in the frying pan. Could the team ride this wave of success into their third win of the season? Speculation continues to fly as we have seen two teams show up in the current group. One shows up with intensity, strength, and confidence- the other is a little more tentative and lacking in pressure.
Alas, Sunday would see the team's win streak come to an end. The Cyclones were out chanced from puck drop and had a difficult time matching the intensity of the Glengarry Highlanders. Piper Nicholson did her best to hold her team in the game, even taking a puck off the helmet, but as the shot count began weighing heavily in the Highlanders' favor- the puck found the back of the net. With two goals less than a minute apart, the Highlanders took a 2-0 lead in the first period that would carry over to the second.
Shaelin Chalmers cut the lead in half in the middle of the second period, with what is becoming a trademark wraparound. Linemate Ava McGarry provided the assist. The goal seemed to jumpstart a bit of momentum in the Cyclones favor, but the Highlanders were quick to respond, netting their third goal of the game less than a minute after the Cyclones found the board.
Clara Salter would add another goal for the Cyclones in the third period with a beautiful shot from the short side that found the five-hole, but not before penalty trouble had the Highlanders net their fourth goal on a powerplay. The Highlanders would add a fifth goal to seal the deal 5-2 and send the Cyclones home with their first regular season defeat.
A post-game interview found coaches cautiously optimistic. Coach Chalmers was quoted as saying, "You don't expect to win every game in a season. You can learn from a loss. We know where we need to work, and we'll come back stronger." Game clock expert, Tony Brown, pointed out that Sunday afternoon away games have not been kind to Cyclones thus far- referring to a pre-season loss against the Nepean Wild Cats. If history teaches us anything, however, the Cyclones came back to win a dominant game against the Wild Cats less than a week after their defeat. Three games in, the Cyclones are finding their identity. When they are working together and putting on the pressure, they seem unbeatable. The trick now is to find a way to bring that intensity to each and every game. No need to ring alarm bells. I suspect this team will back with a vengeance at their next home game against the Nepean Wild Cats. The week in between games will give time for the storm to swell!
Player of the Game: Shaelin Chalmers
Breaking News: Cyclones Pumping Iron!
It's clear the U13C Cyclones are looking for ways to have an advantage over the other teams in their division. Sources tell us that the team was together at Anytime Fitness in Carleton Place earlier this week. Players were said to be working on their conditioning. Although this was a closed session, there are reports that players were utilizing battle ropes, weighted medicine balls, agility hurdles, and weighted sleds. A member of the gym, who asked to remain anonymous, said that they felt a little intimidated by the group of girls. "They were throwing weights around, jumping, doing chin-ups. I didn't expect to be surrounded by such an intense group of girls." When the gym member later found out that they were all members of the U13C Cyclones team they had this to say: "I pity anyone who has to go up against those girls."
So, there you have it folks. Our source reports that the girls were absolutely working as a team. They even high-fived each other as they transitioned from station to station. We now wait to see how this hard work translates to the ice.
