By: Angelo Lia
Paul Davis Systems Falcons girls’ hockey team are Bantam BB Provincial Champions. In a field of 24 competitors, the Falcons went 2 wins and 1 tie in round robin play which was good enough to earn them 4th position overall, with a bye to the quarter finals. The Falcons beat the Stratford Aces in the quarter final game 2-0 setting up for a challenging semi-final match-up against Nepean, who were positioned first overall. After the Nepean Wildcats jumped out to a 1-0 first period lead, Sarah Verbeek tied the game in the second period, with a blistering slap shot from just inside the blue line. The two teams went back and forth in an exciting third period until Rebecca Jezic put in the go ahead goal, off a feed from Keisha Cheechoo with 2 minutes to play. The Falcons goalie Lindsey Strum played well to hold off Nepean to get the win and a place in the Gold medal game.
In the final, the Falcons faced the Whitby Wolves in what would prove to be a nail biter. The Falcons got off to a sluggish start and the game remained scoreless thanks to numerous saves by Falcons net minder Stephanie Seguin over the first two periods . The third period featured many chances by both teams but no one could find the back of the net. The game went into overtime and 22 seconds into the overtime period, Sarah Verbeek scored the game winner to give the Falcons the Gold! The Falcons defensive play and goal-tending was stellar giving up only 2 goals all tournament. Net minders Stephanie Seguin and Lindsey Strum shared the goal tending duties.