For the first time in eight years, a 91原创 girls midget ice hockey team has captured both the league and playoff banners.
The 91原创 Lightning, a midget C2 team which plays out of the 91原创 Girls Ice Hockey Association, secured the double-double with a 3-1 victory over the Surrey C2 Falcons.
Brooke Deakin, Sarah Schwagele and Robyn Maione scored in the victory.
鈥淭he girls executed our game plan and it was a team effort,鈥� said Lightning coach Louie Maione.
鈥淥ur goal at the beginning (of the year) was to provide a learning environment that our girls could build on,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e wanted to strive for excellence, not for wins and losses, but to teach each and every player the necessary skills to realize their own individual potential.鈥�
What resulted was an impressive 17-2-1 record in the regular season, which netted the Lightning the Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey Association regular season banner.
The 91原创 squad, made up of 14 to 17-year-olds with varying degrees of skill and experience, then went 4-1-1 in the playoff round to finish second and earn a date with the Falcons in the final.
鈥淥ur team has been successful because we have provided a consistent structure within our practices and games,鈥� Maione said.
鈥淲e emphasized respect for each other, the skills and technical tactics to be learned and to rely and trust your teammates and also for our opponents.
鈥淚 believe that our greatest strength was the belief in each other and that all the girls had a real bond to one another.鈥�
