Tigers capture third CISSA title
The Ridley Tigers Prep Hockey Girls captured their third Conference of Independent Schools Athletic Association Division I championship in dramatic fashion.
The Tigers overcame a hostile environment and a number of flustering moments to defeat Appleby College in overtime.
Game 1 of the series at Ridley demonstrated just how competitive the matchup would be as the traditional rivals were deadlocked 0-0 after 45 minutes of regulation play. It was not until overtime when Teagan Iwanowich-Rae let loose a powerful wrist shot from the point that the scoreless tie was broken and the Tigers took the series lead 1-0.
Appleby, having earned home ice advantage, then hosted both Game 2 and if needed, a sudden victory overtime to determine the DI champion.
Game 2 started right where Game 1 left off. Appleby managed to build a 2-0 lead until the Tigers rallied with a goal in the second period. Appleby hung on for a 2-1 victory, tying the series 1-1 and setting up a 10 minute, 4-on-4 overtime to decide the Ratcliffe Cup winner.
The Tigers struck quickly in overtime when Avery Penner scored less than three minutes into the extra period, setting off an epic celebration for the Tigers.
Ridley qualified for the finals with a 4-1 win at Nichols in Buffalo.
The Tigers had multiple team members returning from Red Deer and the Canada Games just hours before the game but did not skip a beat.
Ridley then wrapped up their season with a 5-4 loss in the semifinals to Balmoral Hall, who ended up winning the league the following day at the Junior Women’s Hockey League finals in Burlington, VT.
Members of the team are: Carmen Elliott, Emma Penner, Avery Penner, Abby Grexton, Teagon Iwanowich-Rae, Carina Ouellette, Catherine Foulem, Jordyn MacIsaac, Abby Russell, Katherine Culligan, Ava Robertson, Lexie Murphy, Janneke Watt, Brooke Loranger, Hallie McClelland, Maggie Johnston, Mary Sweetapple, Shailynn Snow and Brooklyn Clark.
Snow and Foulem were named to the JWHL All-Star Team while Snow also won the JWHL Offensive Player of the Year as well as the league’s most prestigious award, the Liz Turgeon Player of the Year.
The team was coached by head coach Amanda Wark and assistants Celeste Doucet, Courtney Smith and Stephanie Delaney.
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