All-around team effort propels Eh Team to tournament victory
After winning the first tournament they ever entered in Anchorage two years ago, the Eh Team did it again last weekend.
By Marcel Vander Wier on April 18, 2013
After winning the first tournament they ever entered in Anchorage two years ago, the Eh Team did it again last weekend.
The team, made up of beginner hockey players from the Whitehorse Women's Hockey Association, won the beginner division of the Calgary Women's Spring Hockey Tournament, held April 12 to 14.
The tournament marked the third time the team has travelled Outside the territory to compete.
After winning their three round-robin games, the team dominated the Medicine Hat Mother Puckers 7-1 in the final Sunday, with every player on the team garnering at least a point.
"It was a phenomenal team effort,鈥 said Eh Team organizer Stephanie Hammond, who played for Blue Rodeo in the women's league this season.
Guin Lalena scored twice in the final, with Rosie Cobbett, Kim Chapman, Hammond, Georgie Townrow of Haines Junction, and Stacie Zaychuk all netting singles.
Hammond noted that Chapman's goal was the stay-at-home defender's first all-time.
"That was a beautiful goal,鈥 she said. "She came up the left wing and had space. She went in and scored a beautiful goal five-hole. That was really exciting.鈥
The team won their round-robin games over the Canmore Mad Hackers 6-0 on the strength of two goals by Townrow, the Calgary Jr. Reckers 1-0 on a goal by Nicole Peterson, and Medicine Hat 7-1 鈥 a preview of the championship game. Kirsti Muller scored twice in the 7-1 win.
"That was another highlight,鈥 Hammond said.
Hammond said what made the victories even sweeter was the fact that each of their Alberta opponents play and practice together all season.
The Eh Team features players from all six local women's teams and gets together only a week prior to tournaments.
"We had such a great team dynamic,鈥 Hammond said. "It truly was exceptional 鈥 on the ice and off the ice. We were really supportive of each other and really encouraged each other, and I think that was representative in the score sheets. No one ever had a hat trick, and people who don't get that chance to step up and be a goalscorer or super麻豆社区in league, we got to be those people. And that's really exciting for us.鈥
Prior to the Calgary tournament, the team practised with two more experienced players in the league 鈥 Susan Hamilton and Vanessa Bogaert. Hammond said the wins were a result of both fantastic teamwork and executing the skills and plays reviewed in those practices.
"We implemented those skills really well in our games,鈥 Hammond said. "We were using our D, we were cycling, we were clearing our zone. It looked like we were playing together all year.鈥
Nancy Scholz, a Yukon native now living in Calgary, provided coaching tips from behind the bench at the tournament.
The team's trip was made possible by sponsors Back Country Construction, Jill Pollack & Co., Horizon Helicopters, Yukon Brewing and Cag One Skate Sharpeners.
Two years ago, the team topped the beginner division of the Fools on Ice tournament in Anchorage. Due to winning, they were bumped up to the intermediate division last year, but did not fare as well.
This year, the tournament filled up early, forcing the Eh Team to look elsewhere for competition.
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