TI 14U’s went to Chatham, Ontario, Canada, Nov. 11-13, for their first tournament of the season. Strong defense and great goal tending by every team resulted in goals being a premium. TI’s first two games ended in ties with Victory Honda 0-0 and Windsor, Canada 1-1, lone goal by Kathy Shei. TI’s final round robin game was against CYA. As in the earlier meeting defense was to rule the day. TI scored another one goal win over CYA with goals by Lauran Jones and Emma Rambo.
The Championship game was a rematch with CYA. A 1st period goal by Lauren Jones assisted by Amanda Boskovich was the only score of the game. Yardena Grumet-Morris registered a shut out along with great back checking and defensive play.
The second tournament of the season over Thanksgiving break was the Inaugural Bensenville Girls Elite Tournament. TI faced London, Ontario, Canada in the first round robin game. In an intense game with evenly matched clubs, the Devilettes recorded a 2-1 win with a TI goal by Ali Svoboda. TI then completed the round robin with a 2-1 record, with victories over Wilmette (16-0) and the Chill (17-0). A semi-final game against the St Louis Cyclones resulted in an 8-0 win for TI.
TI got their 2nd chance against the Devilettes in the Championship game. Again the game flow reflected two evenly matched teams with defense and goal tending dominating the game. London scored in the later part of the 1st period and seemed to have momentum until Jocelyn Simpson responded with a TI goal 3 min. into the 2nd. This seemed to even the game until London scored to end the 2nd period 2-1. With regulation coming to an end, Kathy Shei scored a goal in the last two minutes to tie it up. The game remained a 2-2 tie after a 5 min. overtime and came down to a three player shoot-out. The Devilettes won the battle by depositing one puck in the net.
The 14U Girls could not find their tempo in the 1st game of the NIHL regular season. TI could only muster one goal by Maggie Hunt for a 2-1 loss to the Sabres.
The team rebounded very well against the Glenview Stars with back-to-back wins of 5-0 and 3-2. Nicole Germaine, Jocelyn Simpson, Ann Doherty, Maggie Hunt and Emma Rambo all scored for TI in the 1st game with assists from Ali Svoboda, Kathy Shei, Germaine and Doherty. Kellie Shutter exhibited very good goal tending resulting in a shutout.
In the second Stars game, a pair of early goals by Rambo, assisted by line mates Amanda Boskovich and Lauren Jones, looked like it would hold but Glenview came out much stronger. The Stars responded with their 1st goal and had constant pressure on the TI defense. Fortunately, Nicole Germaine assisted by Maggie Hunt scored the game winner in the 3rd period. The Stars again responded with a 2nd goal and stepped up the pressure. Good defense, back checking and goal tending from Yardena Grumet-Morris sealed the win for TI.
TI then hosted the Vikings in what became a truly defensive battle. TI’s defensive squad of Cheri Klosak, Laura Lichterman, Brianne Mahoney, Ann Doherty and Kathy Shei held the Vikings to just 15 shots while the Viking’s defense held TI to a season low of 11 shots. The Viking were able to score three goals and TI only one by Germaine assisted by Hunt and Boskovich resulting in a 3-1 defeat.
In the next game, solid back checking and very stingy defense held the Peoria Rivermen to only 8 shots while TI managed 22 shots. TI had several opportunities on power plays but could not score and lost the game 3-2.
In the 4th game of the weekend, the 14U’s faced the undefeated Crystal Lake Leafs. The girls were determined to show their character and worked hard for a 3-2 win. Goal tending by Shutter showing her toughness in net was supported again by back checking a solid defense. Simpson, Jones and Hunt all scored, with Doherty and Shei getting assists.
In a MWEHL game, TI faced their first test of the season against CYA. A determined Erin Bradarich scored the 1st goal of the game unassisted and Jocelyn Simpson scored TI’s game winner with the help of Hunt. Once again Shutter and the entire defense proved to be the difference, holding CYA scoreless until there was only 1 second left in the game.
The San Jose, California Sharks traveled to the Midwest for some exhibition games at the 14U and 16U levels. The TI 14U game was the last for the Sharks over the weekend with a TI 15-2 victory. Scoring were Jones, Rambo, Germaine, Galiniak, Boskovich, Hunt, Mahoney and Doherty. Assists were credited to Simpson, Mahoney, Jones, Bradarich, Boskovich, Shei, Germaine, Svoboda, Galiniak, and Klosak.
A MWEHL game with the Madison Capitols, four NIHL games, a MEWHL showcase weekend of 4 games and the Connecticut Polar Bear Tournament fill the December schedule.
