The 14U Girls looked to improve on last year’s successful season with 6 key players returning and a very talented group of newcomers joining the squad. New head coach Emily Pemrick and assistant Kyle Harter proved to be the catalysts in forging a team that shows nothing but promise.
In a true team effort, the girls led off the season with a 9-0 practice-game victory over the Chicago Chill 14U team. Eight TI skaters made the score sheet in a game that saw TI outshoot the Chill 37-4, with all 4 Chill shots coming in the first period. Lauren Jones led all scorers with 3 goals and an assist, while Jocelyn Simpson had 2 goals and an assist. Scoring was rounded out with goals by Emma Rambo, Ann Doherty, Ali Svoboda and Amanda Boskovich. Kathy Shei and Nicole Germaine (2) notched assists.
A week later the girls faced off against Midwest Elite Hockey League rival Madison Capitals in a much tougher warm-up for the regular season. Emma Rambo started the scoring in the first, assisted by Ann Doherty. The Capitals tied it with :50 left in the 2nd, but TI went ahead for good just 23 seconds later when Doherty fired from the point on an assist from Rambo. Nicole Germaine rounded off the scoring in the 3rd for a 3-1 victory. TI out shot their opponents 31-22. Kellie Shutter and Yardena Grumet-Morris combined for the win with 21 saves.
The Girls started off the NIHL Bantam Silver seeding round just 4 days later with a 2-1 victory over the Bantam Boys’ team from the Northwest Chargers. After a scoreless 1st period, Kathy Shei scored her first of the year with 1:26 left in the 2nd. Ann Doherty scored to start the 3rd period to make it 2-0. Amanda Boskovich and Lauren Jones had assists. Tough TI defensive allowed the Chargers just 4 shots in the 3rd, making the game out-of-reach for the Chargers, who managed to put one in toward the end of the game for a 2-1 final. TI again out shot their opponent 34-15, with Yardena Grumet-Morris recording 14 saves.
TI next faced the Joliet Jaguars in a bit of a grudge match. TI showed they were there to play, leaving Joliet with a 4-1 victory. Lauren Jones scored twice and Nicole Germaine once to lead TI to a 3-0 lead mid-way in the second before the Jaguars broke the shut out on a power play. Jocelyn Simpson hit the net to start the third period and complete the scoring. Amanda Boskovich was credited with 2 assists and Kathy Shei added one assist. Kelly Shutter made 19 saves.
After a physical game against Joliet on Saturday evening, the girls looked to keep up the pace with a Sunday morning match against the St. Jude Knights. TI scored first for the 5th straight game when Maggie Hunt got her first of the year at 5:38 in the first. Amanda Boskovich then scored with 1:03 left in the 2nd on an assist from Hunt. This proved all TI needed, as the Knights could not break through the TI defense. The Knights finally dashed the shutout on a 6-on-4 power play with just :33 left in the game. TI once again led the shooting game 22-14. Yardena Grumet-Morris had 13 saves.
In their first 3 NIHL games, TI out shot their opponents 79-48, and outscored opponents 8-3, with 2 of the 3 goals scored during their penalty kill. TI will have their 1st NIHL home game at the Edge on October 1st at 2:10 p.m. and their MWEHL opener October 15 & 16 in Kenosha against Belle Tire and St. Louis.
