St. Thomas Novice Panthers hard work pays off with tournament win in Barrie. Skating and passing were the focus over the last two weeks and the team delivered against some tough teams from across the province.
The St.Thomas Panthers travelled to Barrie over the weekend to defend their title at the annual Sharkfest Tourney. There were over 130 teams in several divisions. The Panthers opened up with a 4-1 win over the Mount Forest Rams. The Rams got out to an early 1-0 lead after a traffic jam slowed up several of the parents from getting to the game on time and St.Thomas was forced to start down 4 players including their goalie. Brianna Caeiro stepped up and played great the first 6 minutes of the game until Reese Watson arrived. Shutting down the powerful Rams forwards were Shayla Congdon, Chloe Coveny, Anna Fox, Sadie Waite and Alyssa Goos.
Up next for the Panthers were the Barrie Sharks. St. Thomas really picked up there game and took it to the Sharks outskating and out passing them. The final score was 9-0.
In the final round robin tilt the Panthers faced another Barrie team and picked up where they left off winning 12-0. Alyssa Vandenberghe and Sloan Powless led the way at center playing strong games for the Panthers.
St. Thomas finished tied atop their pool with the Flamborough Falcons. Both teams had a 3-0 record with identical goals for and goals against. They had to go to the 6th tie breaker to determine the winner and the Panthers got the buy to the semi by having fewer penalty minutes.
In the semi-final on Sunday morning the home town team would meet the same Falcons team they were tied with after ther won their quarter-final game against Oakville. Both teams were very evenly matched. The Panthers got out to an early 1-0 lead when Sadie Waite came from behind the next and was able to get one past the keeper. The game stayed this way till late in the second when Sloan Powless converted a breakaway making it 2-0. It was a very physical contest as both teams desperately wanted to make it to the finals. Early in the third the Falcons made it 2-1 when they converted a breakaway. St. Thomas held for the win. Key to the win was the fore-checking of the Panthers. Chloe Ellery, Abbey Gagen, Sophie Pellerine, Hayley Umanskey, Jacquelyn Cox, Natalie Larocque and Brianna Caeiro all did a great job shutting down the Falcons defense from skating with the puck.
On to the final to face the other Flamborough team that was also undefeated and had scored more goals than anyone in the tourney. The Panthers got out to an early 1-0 lead on a goal by Alyssa Goos but Flamborough came back and tied it up. St. Thomas would get two quick goals to take a 3-1 lead but Flamborough fought back with a marker of their own. St. Thomas came out flying in the third and potting another two quick ones and the Falcons could not recover. At the end of the game the Panthers rushed out to thank goalie Reese Watson who backstopped them to the tourney win.
Every member of the team hit the score-sheet throughout the tournament and it was a total team win!