12U Wins Four to Play in the Polar Bear Semi Final 

The TI 12U team joined their four comrade TI teams in Connecticut for the 19th annual Polar Bear Tournament over Christmas break. After all the air/car travel, lost hockey bags, and a shake-it-loose practice on Friday, Dec 26, all settled in on Saturday, Dec 27, for the first challenge of the day with a morning game at the Yale rink against the California Selects. TI set the pace with a goal in the first period battling a very competitive team. The second period sea-sawed between the two teams, each scoring three goals. But TI locked in its first tournament win with 2 more goals in the third period for a 6 to 3 final. Scoring contributors were Nicole Germaine with two, Samantha Patrone with two, Kelly Galiniak, and Erin Bradarich. 

The second game of the day was against Bridgewater, MA, another tough competitor. TI, again, took the lead early with a goal in the first period. One Bridgewater shot just snuck by the goalie to put them on the board in the second period. Our defense played strong allowing only 5 shots on net. The offensive line of Nicole Germaine, Lauren Jones and Ashley Motherwell scored and assisted each other with two more goals in the second period to add a 3 to 1 win to the results. 

On Sunday, Dec. 28, the team took advantage of the late scheduled game to celebrate their holiday party at Amici's Restaurant with all their parents and siblings. Well fed, the team headed to the Yale rink for the 8:45pm game against the Massachusetts Spitfires. All that Italian food fueled the team to fire 6 pucks in the net in the first period. The offensive lines then worked on their breakouts and passing to score three more goals. The strong defense of Caitlin Flynn, Jessica Howerton, Kathy Shei, Alyssa Spratte, and Sarah Steinke allowed only 5 shots on net. Goalies Erin Callahan and Sydni Espey split in the nets to earn a shutout final score of 9 to 0. 

The 15 team 12U-AA level created 3 divisions of 5 teams each. Four games were played to unfold 3 division winners plus a wildcard. The 12U's fourth game was on Monday afternoon, Dec. 29, back at Yale against Lac St. Louis, QC. Again, TI came on strong in the first period scoring 3 goals. All three lines added to the scoring (the Special-K line of Kelly Keogh, Kelly Galiniak, and Katherine Stephans), (Claire Santostefano, Erin Bradarich, and Samantha Patrone), (Nicole Germaine, Ashley Motherwell, and Lauren Jones). This Canadian team was not to be dismissed as they were able to slip by and score two goals on only 5 shots. The TI 8 to 2 win locked in a trip to the semi finals. 

As luck would have it, TI would face the defending National Champions, Assabet Valley, MA on Tuesday, Dec. 30, in the early 7:00am semifinal game at Yale. The team met at 6:00am in the hotel lobby for a quick nutritious breakfast and then headed to the rink. At the drop of the puck, TI played up to the competition staying pace with 3 shots on goal to Assabet's 5. First period - 0 to 0. In the second period, the TI players got caught out of position a few times and it cost them 2 goals, but the 12Us composed themselves and were able to also put one in the net. Assabet added a goal in the third and with only 11 seconds on the clock added their 4th finishing the game and tournament for TI with the 4 to 1 loss. Coaches Steve Jakubowski and Glenn Hoff were proud of the team's performance and in January will strive for improvements with the four remaining NIHL games and practice games.