U13AA CATS - Getaway Vacation

The Twins kicked off their first game of the tournament against our familiar nemesis, Calgary Red. With confidence, Calgary Red didn’t realize the determination and fight the Twins team had. Fueled by their loss in the Finals of the divisional tournament, the Twins were a team on a mission—seeking revenge. The Twins dominated every shift, crushing Calgary Red with a huge 7-2 victory. The Twins were in the right place, and the girls were fully dialed in and ready.

Game 2 came up next, and they faced a team GP Storm team known for their physicality and a completely different style of play than they are used to in the South. The Twins stepped up to the physical challenge, staying calm throughout, and the team responded with a dominant 6-0 win over Storm.

After this, they were ready for their second game of the day (third game of the tournament) against Calgary Black, the "golden ticket" game—one win away from the finals. Although the Twins were beat up and tired, they still managed to push through, securing the win and punching our ticket to the finals.

However, before we could focus on the big final, we had to face the defending champions, Lloydminster Steelers. While securing our place in the finals made this game less significant, our goal was to maintain our level of play and remain undefeated. The game ended in a tie, which was a bit disappointing, but we knew we were still in good shape and just needed to focus on Sunday.

Calgary Red, our nemesis, secured their spot in the finals with a huge comeback in the third period, tying their game against GP. And so, the championship final was set—Twins vs. Red on Sunday.

The Twins were ready, and the energy within the team was palpable and the Fans were electrifying. There was a unified synergy as the team held onto each other and sang "O Canada".  It was clear this team wanted the victory more than their competition. The first period was electric, with the Twins dominating most of the play. Then, a huge momentum shift as Brooklynn Nichols and Cayslie Perkins setup Rookie Danica Fischer for a point shot that snuck through the traffic and goalie.

In the second period, Calgary knew they had to respond and tied the game early. However, the Twins got an advantage late in the period, and on the power play, the Twins setup the puck to Kenzie McCrindle on the point where she rifled a shot through traffic to give her team the lead once again.

The third period was a back-and-forth battle, with Twins goalie Olivia Rice making several electrifying saves to keep the team alive. With just three minutes left in the game, Calgary managed to find a loose puck and score on a scramble, tying the game. The nerves started to settle in with the coaching staff, but they remained calm and focused.

The team responded brilliantly when Brynn McGowan made an incredible power move around a defender, creating a partial breakaway opportunity. Brynn took a quick shot, but missed wide. However, the shot bounced off the boards behind the net and popped out to the other side, where forward Kilynn Soloway was waiting. Kilynn wasted no time and buried the puck for the game-winning goal.

Head Coach Dave Soloway writes; This provincial tournament showcased the incredible teamwork, heart, and determination of our entire team. Every player contributed, from the rookies to the veterans, and it was a true team effort that led to our championship victory. It was a collective, relentless push towards the final win that secured our place as the champions.