Comeback Mustangs earn NCAA AAA crown
A resilient Saint Michael’s Mustangs girls hockey team captured the Niagara Catholic Athletic Association (Zone 2) AAA championship with a 2-1 victory over the Blessed Trinity Thunder.
“Notre Dame and Blessed Trinity were both excellent teams from top to bottom and either of those games could have gone either way,” Saint Michael coach Andrew Chase said.
Jaela Carter netted a hat trick, Jorja Gillis scored a pair of goals and Taylor Masterson added a single goal in a 6-5 overtime victory over Notre Dame in the semifinals and then Gillis and Henlee Mahoney scored for the Mustangs in the championship game against Blessed Trinity.
“Our girls never gave up all year,” said Chase, who coached the team along with Cristina Matesa and Alicia Keighan-Jones. “We were down early in the semifinals and finals but they stuck to it and battled back. We always kept it light and fun and just focused on enjoying the opportunity to play again. Winning was awesome but it was secondary to just getting to be a team again.”
The team received contributions from many including: Masterson and Gillis, who centred the squad’s two lines and were relentless on the forecheck and backcheck; and, the defence corps of Mahoney, Jaela Carter, Trinaty Carter and Madison Bower, who were solid in their own end while also looking for the pass or a skating lane in the transition back up ice.
The Mustangs struggled early in the season because the team didn’t have an actual goalie. Trinaty Carter stepped up, put the goalie equipment on and did a heck of a job for someone who has never played net before. When Taylor Dobrint joined the team midway through the season, it gave the team a solid and full-time netminder and it allowed Saint Michael to put Trinaty Carter back on defence where she was so consistent and smart with the puck.
Chase described Mahoney as the heart of the team.
“She’s playing out of Stoney Creek with the Junior Sabres but always made it out to practice, had a big smile and brought great energy. She’s a natural centre but played defence for us to anchor our back end,” he said. “There’s no one in the league that can match her skating or speed. We’re lucky to have her.”
Mahoney has already committed to join her sister Kylee in playing Division 1 hockey at Mercyhurst.
“Jaela Carter was also amazing for us,” Chase said. “She drove the play from the back and has an incredible shot.”
Like all teams, the Mustangs had to deal with the pandemic pause that halted their season.
“It was unfortunate we missed so much of the season but that was out of our hands. When the opportunity came to play again, we were all happy to be back on the ice,” Chase said. “The girls would have loved to have go to SOSSA (Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association championships) but unfortunately it was cancelled this year due to COVID. Hopefully, we will have another strong season next year and be able to get a chance to play.”
Members of the team were Henlee Mahoney, Jaela Carter, Madison Bower, Trinaty Carter, Taylor Dobrint, Taylor Masterson, Jorja Gillis, Breanna Casler, Lilly Dallman, Alexis Barath, Erica Cupiraggi, Keelin Smith, Kyla Masterson and Sophia Iuliano (manager).
