YARMOUTH, N.S. — The Western Riptide White team has capped off an amazing season by winning the 2018-19 Nova Scotia Hockey Female Peewee A provincial championship.
The team, which has just 12 players on its roster – and where friendships and teamwork have worked hand-in-hand – added the provincials win to a season in which they went undefeated from their very first game to this very last one – which was played April 14 in Truro during Hockey Nova Scotia’s Day of Champions.
The Riptide defeated the Cape Breton Blizzards 2-1 in the provincial championship game during the hard-fought battle against a strong team. Mercedes Melanson scored the first goal in the first period for the Riptide. The Blizzard team tied the game 1-1 in the third period.
The Riptide had a dramatic finish when Renee Olsen scored the game-winning goal short-handed with just 19 seconds remaining on the clock.
Chloe Surette played in net and made great saves throughout the game.
The team had advanced to the provincial championship after winning the South Conference Division with a 4-0 shutout over Metro West Force Blue.
Parents say this has been an incredible season for the team as the girls have looked out for one another throughout the season and couldn’t wait to go to practices, games and tournaments.
One parent says a disco light boom box was brought to every practice and game and there was always a dance party in the dressing room – indicative of what a fun season this was for the team.
Female hockey continues to be promoted in the province and the region, however there are still some struggles in attracting large numbers of female players in some parts of the province.
For this Western Riptide team, the girls played with two lines of players whereas most of the other teams played with three lines.
And still they were not only the little team that could, but the little team that did.
The Western Riptide White roster:
G Chloe Surette
D Allie Dugas
D Kiersten Kenney
D Kalli Goreham
D Isabel Doucette
F Issabelle d’Entremont
F Brooke d’Eon
F Mercedes Melanson
F Marissa Fevens
F Renee Olsen
F Alyssa Boudreau-Poole
F Katie Atkinson
Head coach: Aaron d’Entremont
Asst. coach: Darren Olsen
Manager: Danya Fevens
Trainer: Jason Fevens
