Fresh off a gold medal tournament win, the Huntsville Hoyas girls hockey team is ready for an on-ice challenge against local members of the Ontario Provincial Police.
The girls received the challenge from the Huntsville OPP detachment, who will be joined by players from Bracebridge and Almaguin Highlands, as a way to support the Kelly Shires Foundation. The OPP assists with the Kelly Shires Breast Cancer Snow Run, hosted in February at Hidden Valley Resort, which is entering its 20th year.
“We used to issue challenges to all of the schools—hockey games, basketball games, volleyball games—and I haven’t seen that for a while,” says OPP Constable Lynda Cranney. “(The Hoyas) have developed into a really great team this year and I thought, what a great challenge this would be. It’s fun, it’s for a great cause, and it’s about the girls. They were keen to do it.”
Team manager, Pauline Webb, whose husband Brian Webb coaches the team along with Craig Young, says it’s the perfect end to the season. “I think it’s a great opportunity for the girls hockey team to shine after an incredible season. They are amazing girls who have really embraced each other and grown together as a team.”
The girls are ready for it.
“I think it’s a really great challenge for us,” says Lindsay Young. “We just came out of a really big win.” That win was at a tournament at York University in early March that saw them play five games in a single day. They went in the underdogs and came out champions.
“It’s really exciting. We’ve really improved since we started in grade nine,” says Danielle Boon, adding that she wants to see how well they can compete against the OPP team.
Expect some great hockey and a fun night.
The puck drops at 6:30 p.m. on April 5 at the Don Lough Arena.Entry is by donation to the cause, and there are some additional interactive fundraisers in the works. (See the event poster below.)
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Sharon Stahls says
Really looking forward to watching the girls playing and supporting a great cause. Good thinking Constable Cranney. ALways looking for ways to bring community / youth together. ?