The Elmira District Secondary School girls’ hockey team came out flying on Monday, winning the first game of the season, and shutting out Kitchener Collegiate Institute
They defeated KCI 10-0, scoring nine of those goals by the end of the second period.
“We still went by the old rule which is when you’re up by 10 the game ends. I think they’re going to revamp that rule. In the third period if you’re up by five they’ll run the straight time,” coach Steve Karn said.
Changing the rule would allow the teams to get some more ice time, he says.
The Elmira team has their eyes on winning the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations championship this year. They lost 2-1 in the quarter-finals last season, which was the farthest the team had ever gone.
“That team last year that ended up beating us they won 2-1 with two minutes left. We were that close. That’s their ultimate goal this season is to get back to OFSAA. It’s a long climb to get there. There’s a lot of hockey to be played. It’s not an easy one to get there,” Karn said.
With 10 returning players and six players new to the team – but not to the sport – they’ve got a good chance at making a run for it again.
“We have a good core of our returning players that’s for sure. We’re going to be strong. The other girls that we picked up all play on the Midget BB team,” Karn said.
The team traditionally dominates girls’ hockey in Waterloo Region, not losing a regulation game in three years. They’ve been practicing for a month in preparation for the season, which began this week.
“A couple of the lines they play together outside of school. That helps. These girls have a pretty good skill set. They’ve had an opportunity to at least skate with each other and figure it out,” Karn said.
Their third line scored six of the 10 goals against KCI. He says they’re a great group of girls with depth and good work ethic. Goal scorers were Teagan Schaus (5), Marlie Kernick, Emily Willms, Jaimee MacDonald, Cassandra Tuffnail, and Hannah Weber. Dana Colombo earned the shutout.
KCI is typically one of the weakest teams in the league, so it wasn’t a surprise that EDSS beat them. But before playing Bluevale Collegiate Institute on Wednesday, Karn said they’d be a bit more of a challenge, and there are definitely teams in the league that will give the girls some competition. Once you’ve been successful for so long, other teams will be out to “dethrone” you, he added.
“There’ll be some good teams, Southwood, Huron Heights. There’ll be about four other teams that will be good,” Karn said.
He expects another successful season for the squad, but they’re taking it one step at a time.
“The mix we have they will contend for both WCSSAA and CWOSSA and try to get back [to OFSAA]. They’re going to work hard. Hard work always pays off,” Karn said.
They hosted BCI on Wednesday afternoon, and have four more games before the Christmas break.
