From underdogs to champions: Hoyas girls hockey team wins end-of-season tournament

Main photo: (Back row from left) Brian Webb (coach), Pauline Webb (manager), Kate Franks, Sally Franks, Emma Punkari, Lindsay Young, Jasmine O’Dell, Grace Hetherington, Avery Herr, Emma Elliott, Randi Deline, Craig Young (coach); (front row from left) Josie Bjorkquist, Kaitlyn Belfry, Ainsley Willows, Danielle Boon, Abby Boon, and Evangeline Perentesis.

It was a day of firsts for the Huntsville High School Hoyas girls hockey team.

That’s how co-coach Brian Webb, who has coached the team for the last three of four years, described the one-day tournament the team travelled to at York University on March 7.

First, they had a shut-out, their first ever, in their first game of the tournament. They had a penalty shot awarded to them, also their first ever, and scored. They used a time-out for the first time. And they had a final game that went to their first-ever shootout, which they won.

“We were pretty proud of them as coaches,” said Webb. “It was a great experience. Their hard work paid off.”

The team was eager to compete in the Canlan mini-match tournament but wasn’t sure how they’d do. They knew they were the weakest team going in, based on past performance, said Webb.

But they won their first game 3-0, followed by a tie in their second and a win in their third. The girls headed into their lunch break feeling positive. But after a heavy lunch and with three games already under their skates, the Hoyas “got skunked” in their fourth game, said Webb. It would have been enough to send them home had they not played so well in the morning, but the points they earned got them to the final—against the team that had just beat them 7-0.

That might have got a less positive team down but if you can say anything about the Hoyas, it’s that they’re always positive. It’s not a coincidence.

Webb said they’ve heard from parents that the way the Hoyas play differs from what they encounter in some of the other teams they face. “There’s no drama,” said Webb. “They were really impressed to see how this group of ladies represent us wherever they are. We were proud to hear that. We are always patting the kids on the back about how outstanding they are and making sure they know that. Our whole philosophy is it’s not all about hockey…From the first practice, they always get the respect speech in the dressing room. It starts with self, their teammates, their family, the school, the town, and being in the arena. They are listening to the message.”

When you’ve just lost badly to a team and have to face them again so soon, what do you say as a coach? “Our parting words were, ‘you know what you have to do, there’s nothing we can say, you know what your jobs are and we’ll leave it with you,'” said Webb. The coaches left the dressing room so the girls could have a team meeting and whatever they said amongst themselves showed on the ice. They played a great game, said Webb, and tied the score up with just 1:36 remaining.

That sent the game into a shootout where both teams took their shots at the same time. The Hoyas scored in their first two attempts, putting an end to the game and sealing their spot as tournament champions.

“The girls pulled out all the stops,” said Webb. “It was a very rewarding experience.”

The Hoyas have one game left this season—a charity match against the OPP in support of the Kelly Shires Foundation which provides financial support for women diagnosed with breast cancer. Join them for a great cause and to celebrate the end of a great season for the team. The puck drops at 6:30 p.m. on April 5 at the Don Lough Arena. Entry is by donation with all proceeds going to the Kelly Shires Foundation.

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