VG Hockey Spartans Have Strong September

 

Before getting into this September’s strong start, it’s worth noting that the summer training and development season was a success for many of the girls, including returning Colgate commits Alexia Aubin and Maxim Tremblay, who were selected to participate for Team Canada at the U18 & U22 Development Team Summer Showcase Series in Lake Placid against the USA. Time will tell if Maxim will continue our program’s run of players on Canada’s U18 squad at the World Championships, but she certainly showed well, gathering 3 points in 3 games against the USA.

Third year Spartan Jamie Arsenault also earned her way onto Team Atlantic Canada for the Canadian Nationals in November. At this point, Maxim Tremblay, Rosalie Tremblay, Maélie Pion and Charlotte Labrèche may all be following her to Dawson Creek with their respective provincial teams as well.

Several of the girls participated in Stanstead College’s High Performance Camps this summer, including playing the Beantown Classic in Boston this July. Both the U14s and U16s lost by one goal in the semi-finals after going 5-0 in round robin play.

As last year’s 2022-2023 NAHA Labour Day Classic returning champion, the Spartans forged their way into this year’s semi-finals with a 3-win-1-tie record in round robin. The girls played great in tying the Boston Jr. Eagles 1-1 and by defeating Florida Alliance 2-1, San Diego 4-1 and Team Colorado 6-0. We met up with perennial rival NAHA in the quarter-finals, putting in a dominant effort enroute to a 3-1 win. In the semi-finals, we played an undefeated Minnesota Jr. Whitecaps (Black) and lost a nail biter, 2-3 in overtime, despite leading 2-0 after the first. Collectively, the girls played great.

Our first home games of the year on September 23 and 24 saw the Ottawa Lady 67s come to town, fresh off a 4-1 record at the prestigious Stoney Creek Showcase in Ontario. With wins against powerhouse opponents the Waterloo Ravens and Belle Tire, not to mention CEGEP Dawson College, we anticipated a fierce battle. In game one, on Saturday, September 23, our top line of Alexia Aubin, Rosalie Tremblay and Maxim Tremblay continued their dominating ways. With great play from Maélie Pion and Emma MacIntyre on the power play, this line scored 4 of our team’s six goals, twice on the PP.  With timely goaltending from Joliane Tremblay and gritty play from all of the girls down the stretch, we won 6-2. This score is a bit misleading as the Spartans scored 3 empty netters in the last 2 minutes of the game.

On Sunday, the girls got off to a great start, posting a 3-1 lead before getting into penalty trouble and giving up 2 goals with players in the penalty box. However, the PK pairing of Ellie French and Charlie Pampalon shifted the momentum by providing great energy in re-gaining control of the game and scoring their own highlight reel short-handed marker. With the score tied at 3-3 going into the third, the girls pushed hard to win the weekend and scored 3 unanswered goals to finish up 6-4.   

Closing out the month, the girls played two more games against the 67s, this time in Ottawa on September 30 and October 1. On Saturday, the girls paced themselves to 7-1 lead before giving up the last two goals for a 7-3 victory. Alexia Aubin got 3 goals, while Joliane Tremblay earned her fourth win of the year and 21^st victory as an SC Spartan, against just 1 loss total in her time here. It is becoming evident that Jo Jo knows how to win hockey games!

On Sunday, the girls were dominated in the first period, falling behind 2-0 and outshot for the first time all year by a margin of 13-9. After the first period, off the strong performance of Maxim Tremblay, who earned her first hat trick as a Spartan, the girls rallied back for a 5-3 victory, giving up just 5 shots the rest of the way.

It has been a terrific start for the 2023-2024 Varsity Spartans. They look to have a great October break before heading down to Lake Placid on October 13, 14, 15 for their first JWHL Showcase Event. On October 20, 21, 22, the girls fly out to Minnesota to participate in the prestigious 80-team National Invitational Tournament. This month of 10 games or so will arguably be the stiffest competition that the SC Varsity Spartans have ever faced. The girls are looking forward to it with great anticipation. 

- Coach Pimm