Atom C Lancers Win B Division Gold at Devilette's Tourney!, News (Lambeth Minor Hockey)

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OWHA Girls | Feb 06, 2017 | Darryl Van Slyke | 1720 views
Atom C Lancers Win B Division Gold at Devilette's Tourney!
The Lambeth Atom C Girls hockey team entered into the 27th annual London Devilette's tournament that hosted 183 teams this past weekend and brought home the Atom B Division Championship gold!



Starting their very tough schedule against the Ancaster Avalanche, the message from the coaches was simple...you're all the same age, and no matter what categorization level you play, you can still outwork any team. Their response was amazing and came out flying. This game went back and forth for two scoreless periods until Captain Carr buried a beauty half way through the third period. We held on for a huge 1-0 win. 
The second game pitted us against the Sault Ste. Marie Wildcats. Our girls were down to just 10 skaters and giving everything they had, to go up 1-0 after two periods. The SSM Wildcats then knotted it up early in the third. The Lancers then went ahead half way through the third with a top-cheese go ahead goal by T. Van Slyke. SSM would not go down easily or give up and just kept coming at us. Our always dependable and rock-solid defensive unit of Roff, Vilon, Stewart and Derbyshire kept them away from any chances of tying it up though. That's when our "pound for pound, best winger in town", Burk slammed home a much needed insurance goal late in the third to put this one away. 4-1 final.
The last game of the round-robin we faced the Barrie Sharks, who we knew wouldn't be an easy team to beat. Our girls peppered this team with quality shots and couldn't beat the best goalie we've seen this year so far. The Sharks turned this inspirational goaltending against us and went up 2-0 half way through the second. With a team that never gives up, the Lancers just kept pounding the Sharks zone with chances until finally T.Van Slyke solved this amazing goalie with 12 minutes left in the third. With the arena buzzing with excitement and lots of spectators enjoying every minute, Davidson gets awarded a penalty shot with 4 minutes left in the game. With a ton of pressure on the young shooter and an amazing save, this game would end in a 2-1 loss.
2 and 1 in the round-robin put us first in our pool setting up a much anticipated semi-final morning game against the host team London Devilettes.
Finally, after being short players for first three games, our Lancers came out flying as usual. O'Hara and the Duffy twins back in the lineup were a very welcomed addition to our shortened bench. The Devilettes played fast and tenacious as we battled to a 0-0 tie after one period. Captain Carr then streaked in early in the second to open the scoring. Back and forth action at both ends in the second kept all the friends and family of the two local teams on the edge of their seats. Then, near the end of second a former Lancer streaks in and rips top corner which would usually mean tie game...but a Fuhr-like glove save from C.Van Slyke kept the Devilettes off the board. Our bench and everyone in attendance were in awe. That save would further motivate our girls to hold the Devilettes to zero shots in the third. Carr would then bury two more insurance markers to complete the hat-trick and it's off to the finals we go with a 3-0 win!
The finals were set against unbeaten Toronto Leaside Wildcats on the big ice at Western Fair. The message was simple...You have nothing to lose. 
The Lancers would simply not back down this weekend from anyone and their burning desire to get rewarded for their efforts this season would shine bright in the final game. 
Toronto couldn't generate much of a threat against our relentless back checkers and stifling defence. We opened the scoring early in the first. Looking to go up 2-0, Beattie was left alone on the doorstep and the Wildcats goalie shut the door. Entering the third clinging to a 1-0 lead we knew we had to get another one to put this one away. Carr scored on a sweet deke move undressing the goalie to put us up by two with 11 minutes to play. Then 50 seconds later our always dangerous around the blue paint Juusola would put this one out of reach for Toronto. Then to truly ice the win our captain Carr scores again for a second straight hat-trick for a 4-0 win!
Our coaching staff and parents are very proud of these little players and know that with more than 20 games left with future tournaments and playoffs, this team will be ready to achieve even more success!

Go Lancers Go!
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