Under 13 (U13) - U13-C
Storm Watch: 9th Edition
Storm Watch: 9th Edition
The Carleton Place U13C Cyclones played their first home game since October 25th last night in Almonte. The girls would face-off against the Gloucester Cumberland Stars for only their second meeting of the year. Sources say the mood was positive and relaxed prior to the game, with players demonstrating a clear understanding of what needed to be done. In a stretch that will see the Cyclones play three games over four days, fans knew that the team would need to make a statement in this first of the three.
The Cyclones took to the ice in their home away from home in their now signature run. Goaltender, Piper Nicholson, looked poised and ready from the beginning. And what a beginning! From puck drop the Cyclones attacked the Gloucester end relentlessly. The Stars seemed hemmed in their end for a good deal of the first period. Shots were aplenty, but the Stars' tender stood on her head to make it difficult, despite the offensive pressure produced by the Cyclones.
Throughout the game we would see solid scoring chances from Katie Chase, Daria Sullivan, Clara Salter, Sophia Brown, and Ava McGarry. All chances that may have found their way to the back of the net against a lesser goalie. We saw Ella Anderson battle along the boards and Chloee Carmody get caught up in battles in front of the net. Lila Faris flew across the ice, demonstrating her speed time and time again.
The defense kept the puck locked in the Stars' end. Julia Olmsted upped the physical game at times while her partner Mila Straznicky was sure to get the puck in deep at every chance. The duo of Ellie Sloan and Tessa Creamer regrouped well in their own end to send their forwards on rushes whenever they could. Katie Soper was everywhere, keeping the offense to the outside, while Meredith was sure to get a stick on the puck with all challengers.
Things looked solid for the Cyclones, but they could not get on the board. Less than a minute into the third period, Shaelin Chalmers broke free from a puck battle in the corner and buried the first of the game. Soon after, a timely powerplay seemed to give the girls a lift. Unfortunately, the girls could not capitalize, and an uncharacteristic breakdown led to a shorthanded break where Nicholson needed to come up big to keep her team in the game.
Fans and players will argue over what happened next for generations. Shaelin Chalmers rushed the puck up the ice, splitting the D, and fired the puck hard off the post and past the Stars' tender. The clock stopped. The fans cheered. The players on the ice celebrated. Alas, the referee did not have the angle that everyone else had and declared it had not crossed the line. These types of calls can come back to haunt teams in such close games.
Cue the 17 second mark of the third period. A face-off win in the Stars' end should have secured the win. But the Stars came up with the puck and rushed up the ice on a clear breakaway. Piper secured her position and made an incredible butterfly save. She even got a piece of the rebound to keep her team up by one. The Cyclones regained possession and took it back up ice to run out the clock and claim their second straight victory over the Stars.
Coach Salter commented after the game on the Stars' strong presence in front of their net. "They collapse well down low and it was hard for us to get our triangle going."
Despite the score on the board, the Cyclones were clearly the more dominant team. Players will need to refine their shooting and get a little more creative before their next meeting, but the girls did enough to get the W. Welcome home Cyclones!
Player of the Game
29 Piper Nicholson
