For the first time this season, the Senior AA UBetcha Wildcats returned home from tournament action empty handed.
In three previous tournament appearances this season, the Wildcats claimed the championship each time. In the Newtonbrook Tournament on the weekend, the Wildcats played well enough to win but had trouble scoring goals as the locals recorded three ties.
The Wildcats opened the tournament with a 1-1 tie against Kitchener. Erica Avery scored the lone goal for UBetcha while Deanna Boissoneau was solid in net.
In their second game, the Wildcats surrendered a goal to break a 1-1 tie with 17 seconds remaining in the game. But Lorie Springall tied the game at 2-2 with five seconds left on the clock as she beat the Belleville goaltender with a shot up high. Springall also scored the goal while Ashley Driver added a pair of assists.
In the final contest, Kim Raymond recorded the shutout as the Wildcats played to a 0-0 draw with the Newtonbrook Panthers. Raymond was especially sharp early by making several big saves while the Wildcats were two players short.
"Not being able to score was frustrating for us but we stayed focused and didn't let it get to us," said Wildcats coach Craig Coletti.
"We kept up a smothering forecheck and moved the puck well. There's no question we dominated every game. Perhaps we could have shot the puck more or made different choices with our shot selections but I'm happy with how we played. The score doesn't always reflect who the better team was."
The Wildcats extended their season record to 19-1-3. The team is preparing for the Provincial Championships February 27-29 at the South Fletcher Sportsplex in Brampton. The top two teams will advance to the Central Canadian Championships in Montreal in April.
*** NIHL CHAMPIONS:
The Great Lakes Bus Tours/Hess Jewellers Atom AA Reps claimed the Northern International Hockey League championship on the weekend with a pair of wins over Keewenaw.
The locals opened the two-game set with a 4-2 win as Alec D'Orazio, MacKenzie Edwards, Kyle Miket and Brendan Kane scored once each. The Soo Reps followed with a 3-0 victory as Stormer Santana was solid in net and received the shutout while D'Orazio, Josh July and Kane provided the scoring.
The Reps return to action next weekend in North Bay.
*** ALL-STAR CARTER:
Jeff Carter will take part in Tuesday's Ontario Hockey League All-Star Classic in Peterborough. Fans are reminded that they can check out the Soo Greyhounds captain in action for the Western Conference live on Rogers Sportsnet, local cable 32, beginning at 7 p.m.