Adam Prudhomme
Editor
One bounce was the difference as the NDSS Golden Hawks girls hockey team lost 2-0 to Holy Cross in Thursday’s KASSAA finals at Kingston’s Invista Centre.
Dylan Trickey had the game winner, firing a puck that would be deflected in front and skip up and over the glove of NDSS goalie Lily Reid with just over four minutes left to play in the third. Peyton Armstrong sealed Holy Cross’ win with an empty net goal a few moments later.
NDSS’ Ella Mulder attempts to control the puck in front of the Holy Cross net. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Napanee had their share of chances, particularly early in the game, but couldn’t solve netminder Sofia Toffolon. Napanee’s Peyton Brooks had a great opportunity in the first skating in alone but was blocked by Toffolon. NDSS continued to generate chances through the first two periods but ultimately came up empty-handed. Ella Mulder had an opportunity to tie late in the third, getting in close but couldn’t convert, highlighting what was a frustrating afternoon for the Hawks’ offense.
Peyton Brooks of the NDSS Golden Hawks skates in alone on Holy Cross goalie Sofia Toffolon. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
“It’s a tricky situation when it gets that tight,” said Hawks coach Matt Campeau. “I think we out-chanced them in the first and second, but a deflection, it wasn’t a clean chance, just hit a stick and went up and in (for Holy Cross’ first goal). That’s the way it goes sometimes.”
Though a silver KASSAA finish wasn’t the goal, the future remains bright for this squad.
NDSS’ Alaina Holmes attempts to break up a holy Cross offensive chance. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
“I think we had six Grade 9s in the lineup,” said Campeau. “That’s the nice thing about it being in Napanee in that we always get surprised who comes into the school in Grade 9. It’s a luxury to coach there because we always have talented kids coming in.”
That’s not to say they won’t be losing some key components either, with all of the team’s captains graduating.
Holy Cross goalie Sofia Toffolon juggles the puck but ultimately makes the save as her team shutout the NDSS Golden Hawks 2-0 in Thursday’s KASSAA finals. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
“Carly Uens, our D, skates like the wind. We had a couple of forwards that we really great, Payton Brooks, Alexa Lazarakos, our goalie was a Grade 9, our other goalie’s (Mikenna Ford) a Grade 9, so we have some real talent,” said Campeau. “We have a real strong leadership group too and those are the kids that are leaving, captain Jaidyn Manion, been here the whole time, scored some really big goals for us over the years and then Krissy Sutton on D, another captain (Abby Birdsell), she’s been a stalwart the whole time, probably the best defensive hockey player in the whole league and just brings it every single time and then Maeve Kennedy, a fifth year kid, always been committed to the program and a great leader.”
Campeau credited Reid’s performance in Thursday’s final and noted she has stood on her head all season
Napanee’s season isn’t over just yet, as they head to Cornwall to play in the Eastern Ontario (EOSSAA) tournament. A first place finish there would grant them a berth to OFSAA, which goes March 19-21 in Brooklin.