These amazing young ladies have dedicated the last 6 months to this team and their goal of making it to Provincials. Despite losing a couple of teammates along the way, they succeeded and went a little further … bringing home a shiny SILVER MEDAL too.
CONGRATULATIONS to the 'COUNTRY CHARM MENNONITE FURNITURE' BANTAM 'C' REBELS ... THE 2016 OWHA PROVINCIAL SILVER MEDALISTSThey knew they were going to lose Reese Wilkins in February to an exchange in France, but they were not expecting defenseman Emma Watson to be put out for the remainder of the season, due to a concussion in early January.
That left 6 forwards, 3 defense and 2 outstanding goalies.
They pulled together and kept their focus on Provincials.
The girls finished Provincial Playdowns (2-0-2), a point behind the South Bruce Blades (3-0-1) and these top 2 teams were off to Toronto to represent Grey-Bruce. In a weird twist of fate these 2 teams would both be placed in Pool A and face each other in the 1st game of the tournament.
Game 1 – 8:00am Friday vs South Bruce 
2 – 0 Loss
The Blade’s extra 4 skaters paid off on the large ice surface of the Oakville arena and the Rebels found themselves losing steam by the end of the 2nd period when South Bruce managed to sneak the puck into our net with 1:07 remaining. During a Blades’ breakaway with 2:15 remaining in the 3rd, our 2 exhausted defensemen caught up and took away the shot, but unfortunately South Bruce was awarded a penalty shot as a result and was successful in finding the back of our net.
It was almost a relief getting that game and that team (that has been our nemesis all year) out of the way and out of the girls’ heads.
Game 2 – 1:15pm Friday vs North Bay 
8 – 0 WIN *shut-out Edwards*
The girls seemed much more comfortable moving the puck around on this smaller ice surface (more like home in Chatty) and Kirsten Sutter found her groove and got the Rebels on the board with the assistance of Grace Kivell at 8:48. The remainder of the period went end to end with Tatum Edwards and the Ice Boltz goalie putting on a show.
The Rebels took control of the 2nd period and were able to bury 5 goals in the 12 minutes.
11:31 Kivell, assisted by Sutter
10:11 Sutter, assisted by Kivell and Jade Gilchrist
7:26 Sutter, unassisted (Short Handed)
6:23 Lindsay Elliot, assisted by Gilchrist (Short Handed)
0:44 Joren Wilcox, assisted by Kivell and Morgan Moran
The 3rd period slowed down a bit, but Sutter added another goal to her hat-trick at 5:26 assisted by Moran.
The rough Ice Boltz continued to get more physical and Moran wound up being checked from behind into the boards with 1:40 left on the clock.
After a time-out reminding the girls to be on guard, Sammy DeJong tucked in the final goal after a D to D pass from Elliot to Kenna McKee sent the puck to the net at 1:31.
Game 3 – 1:00pm Saturday vs Mount Forest 
4 – 1 WIN
The tension grew as the game went on with these league rivals. It was a close match up and a little too close for comfort.
DeJong got the rebound from Moran’s shot at 7:37 and Maddy Vokes added one, on a weird angled shot at 5:29 unassisted. Play went back and forth and it was the Rams that finally scored at 3:46 in the 2nd.
Ashlynn Stephenson and her Rebels’ defense played well and our offense kept the pressure on the Rams net desperate to increase their 1 goal lead. It paid off at 5:53 in the 3rd when DeJong buried the puck, assisted by Vokes and Elliot.
Kivell picked up the puck while Sutter tied up the centre at the faceoff and sent a shot high into the net for the final goal of the game.
The REBELS finished 2nd in Pool A and would face the 1st place team in Pool D in the Quarter-Finals.
QUARTER-FINAL – 6pm Saturday vs Sarnia 
2 – 0 WIN *shut-out Edwards*
After two run-ins with the Lady Sting at tournaments this season (one resulting in a concussion to Emma … and both ending in 2 – 0 losses with empty netters), the REBELS knew what had to be done and they didn’t back down.
The even pairing of these two teams caused even more tension for the anxious fans.
Edwards was fabulous in our net and the defense was on a mission of their own.
With her new stick in hand, Sutter sent a rocket from the top of the circle at 4:08 and the crowd went wild.
At 4:19 in the 2nd, Sutter had us on our feet again as she picked up a pass from Elliot and somehow snuck an angled shot between the post and the goalie’s skate to make it 2 – 0.
In what seemed like the longest 16 minutes ever, the clock finally ran out and the girls had guaranteed themselves 2 more games and were heading to the Semi-Finals in the morning.
*In all 4 quarter-final games, the REBELS were the only 2nd place team to upset a 1st place team to move on.
SEMI-FINAL – 9:30am Sunday vs Belmont 
2 – 0 WIN *shut-out Stephenson*
This was a rough game that had both teams warming their bench in the penalty box. On two occasions our girls found themselves playing 5 on 3 and managed to successfully kill them both.
On a power-play at the end of the 1st period, Elliot shot from the point and Sutter flipped it in the net to get the Rebels on the board.
After working hard to keep the play in the Blazers end, Wilcox made her way through traffic and scored unassisted with 3:26 remaining in the game.
Stephenson worked her magic in the net and with the assistance of her 3 mighty Defense she earned herself the shut-out and the REBELS were on their way to the CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.
For the 4 first year players, it was their 2nd year in row going for GOLD and 5 of our second year players had battled for BRONZE last year too.
These girls should all be so proud of what they have accomplished again this year… Just getting this far had already guaranteed them a medal!
The girls had a quick lunch and made a call to France to Face-Time teammate Reese before the big game.
CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL – 2:00pm Sunday vs Lucan 
2 – 1 Loss
In a very tight game that could have gone either way, both Edwards and the Irish goalie were fabulous in their nets and kept the score low. Unfortunately, it was the Irish that had the luck for this one.
Lucan scored first at 5:22 in the 2nd in a scramble at our net, and added another with a screened shot from the point at 10:24 in the 3rd.
Kivell replied with a goal assisted by Gilchrist at 7:20, but despite every effort we just couldn’t get the tying goal.
Lucan wins the GOLD and the REBELS take the SILVER!
The girls have been very lucky to have such an excellent and PATIENT bench staff.
The experience that these 4 coaches brought to the team was priceless (good thing they're free).
This is the 5th straight year that head coach Brad Moran has been part of a team that made it to Provincials, and this is his 2nd SILVER Medal.
Assistant coaches Kevin Sutter and Ken Kivell were convinced to make the switch over to the OWHA last season and were eager to help their daughters out again this year (after just missing out on a Bronze Medal in 2015).
Assistant coach Tim Gilchrist earned a GOLD Medal in 2015 with our Peewee C team, and he and Kivell both juggle their time coaching teams in the OMHA and OWHA this season.
Our 2 skilled and compassionate trainers, Jeanne MacLennan and Lisa Elliot have also dedicated their time at every practice and game. They have kept the girls' dressing room guarded, expertly tended to injuries and tears, and have hydrated and cheered the girls on from the bench.
Finally, our team manager and TCDMHA ice convenor Cathy Kivell. She has had to deal with the coaches, the scheduling, the tournaments, the stat checking of the opposition, the money, the restaurant bookings, all the group texts and emails . . . and has still managed to keep us all organized and in the right place at the right time.
THANK YOU ALL from everyone involved with this team.
Hopefully our girls recognize, and appreciate how much you have done for them! We all do!!!
BANTAM 'C' TEAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS THIS 2015-16 SEASON
34 – 8 – 8 RECORD
CHAMPIONS of the Mount Forest Rams Classic Hockey Tournament, in November
SILVER Medalists a the South Huron Pink on the Rink, in January (after the 2 – 0 loss to Sarnia)
SILVER Medalists at the WOAA Year End Tournament in Wingham.
SILVER Medalists at OWHA PROVINCIALS ( 4 – 2 – 0, 17 GF and 5 GA )
and . . . THEY PULLED A TRUCK!!!
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