Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Erinville’s Maddi Wheeler added another gold medal to her collection on Saturday, helping Ontario Red to a perfect 5-0 record at the 2019 National Women’s U18 Hockey Championship in Winkler, Man.
The 17-year-old NDSS student had a goal and two assists in five games played at the national tournament. Ontario Red defeated Saskatchewan 3-1 in the finals, marking the fifth straight year Ontario Red has won the Canadian championship. In the semifinal they doubled up on Quebec 4-2.
Wheeler scored Ontario Red’s first goal of the tournament, lighting the lamp at the 17:40 mark of the first period against Team Atlantic, helping to ignite a 5-2 Ontario victory.
She then added an assist in her team’s 4-1 win over Alberta followed be a helper in a 4-2 win over their eventual gold medal finals opponent, Saskatchewan.
The gold medal was Wheeler’s second at a major tournament this year. In January scored the game winner in overtime to lift Canada to gold at the 2019 International Ice Hockey Federation U18 Women’s World Championship, which took place in Obihiro, Japan.
Currently a member of the Kingston Junior Ice Wolves of the PWHL, she has committed to the University of Wisconsin for 2020.
Last season she served as captain for the NDSS Golden Hawks in KASSAA league play.