The Jennifer Tedford Midget C Rebels competed in
the Pink on the Rink tournament in South Huron on the weekend. The girls finished first in pool play, but
fell 4-0 to a strong Saugeen Shores team in the semi-finals.
Their first game on Friday pitted them against the host South Huron team. With all of the crazy weather Grey County had been experiencing, this was the girls’ first game in nearly a month…and it showed! The Rebels managed to get on the board first when Aly Airdrie pinched to keep the puck in at the point and AP Reese Wilkins picked it up and fired it high glove side past the Sabres goalie. Reese would score again three minutes later off of a rebound from a shot by fellow AP Morgan Moran. That was the extent of the Rebels scoring, but the Sabres were just warming up. They got on the board two minutes into the second period and added a pair of goals in the third, defeating the Rebels with a final score of 3-2. Player of the Game was deservedly awarded to Reese.
The girls faced the Huron Heat for their second game and when they hit the ice at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning, they looked like an entirely different team. Challenged by the coaches to up their effort, the girls didn’t disappoint. Captain Grace Kuhl would open the scoring for the Rebels, backhanding a bullet past the Heat goalie; assists to Kyla Thalen and Renee Farrow. A short time later Kuhl would net her second of the game on a pass from Reese. Goal number three was a point shot from Brittany Batterman; assist to Grace Kivell. Not to be outdone by her elder, Morgan Moran would also score from the blue line just 11 seconds later; assists to Farrow and Sam DeJong. The Rebels’ final goal was a lucky one. AP Jade Gilchrist banked the puck off the boards from centre ice and it ended up in the back of the Heat net. Final score: 5-1. Player of the Game went to Grace Kuhl.
This convincing win was more than enough to place the Rebels first in their pool and give them a bye to the semi-finals on Sunday. The Rebels faced Saugeen Shores and the opposition came out firing on all cylinders, netting four goals in the first period. Rebels goalie Hannah Mustard persevered through that first period despite struggling with a skate malfunction. After some repairs at the first break, she returned to the ice and was unbeatable; shutting out the Storm for the remaining two periods and earning Player of the Game. The Rebels generated numerous quality scoring chances, but couldn’t put the puck past Saugeen goalie Marley Scott. Final score: Saugeen 4 Rebels 0.
Good effort, girls!
The Rebels begin the second half of their season this Friday night when they host the Owen Sound Ice Hawks.