LOCAL GIRLS BRING HOME PROVINCIAL GOLD!

Our community has been well represented in the Midget B Provincial Tournament March 19 - 22 in Edson by a team of fourteen young ladies aged between 15 and 18 years of age who are most in their element when holding sticks and and wearing razor sharp blades on their feet.

They are the Fort Saskatchewan Female Midget “B” Fury Hockey Team; comprised of local girls with a strong desire to play a high calibre game. They come from Fort Saskatchewan, Mundare, Andrew, Two Hills, and Vegreville, and since September they have played in the challenging Greater Edmonton Girls Midget “A” League.

The teams they faced were strong but they battled hard; sometimes too hard for a no hit league. They entered Zone Play offs with a goal of earning the Championship. The first round had them play a determined Lac la Biche (15 players) team for a two game total point elimination. The Fury put out a great effort in the Fort Saskatchewan Dow Center to win 8 – 1. Lac la Biche conceded the round with a forfeit of the second game. For round two they took on a fantastic goaltender backing a fast skating, big Fort McMurray team. Eight skaters and a goalie travelled to Fort McMurray to defeat eighteen Fort McMurray players by a score of 2-1. Fort McMurray returned two days later with nineteen players only to be disappointed with a 3-1 loss. Their last hurdle that needed to be overcome before earning entry into the Provincial Tournament was Smokey Lake (16 players). They met them for Game 1 and 2 on February 26 then March 1 handing them two consecutive losses 5-2 and 5-0 . This small team was now Zone 2 Champions! They earned their right to “Go for Gold” in the Provincial Tournament in Edson commencing on March 19^th.

So away they went; a team of 10 skaters and 1 goaltender headed to Edson to take on the other eight Alberta Zones and host Edson for the right to wear the Provincial Crown. Friday 9:00 am they easily handled Edmonton-Zone 8(15 players), defeating them by a score of 4-1. By 2:00 pm nineteen Innisfail-Zone 4 players threw everything they had at them but could only meet the Fury effort with a 4-4 tie. Gladly the team retired for the day caring for a few bumps and bruises. Edson met them the next morning with a full compliment of nineteen players against our eleven. The long lines of Edson were no match for a driven team, determined to succeed. Edson packed up their gear with a 9-1 loss. The last game of Round Robin play saw the Fury tangling with the toughest competition in their Division, Olds-Zone 6 (18 players). Injuries and illness were beginning to plague the team and before the puck dropped a very saddened player reluctantly left the bench to seek medical attention to a breathing issue. Now down to nine skaters, other teams and coaches watched from the stands in disbelief as these warriors battled non stop for 20 minutes at a time to handing Olds a 2-2 tie and second place in Division 1, right behind the 1^st place Fury team.

Only the first and second place teams advanced into the semi-finals. With the Fort Fury being in first place in Division 1 we took on second place Division 2 Beaverlodge-Zone 1 (17 players). Thankfully the snow storm brought with it fresh legs that morning; the girls eagerly welcomed their group of seven Bantam affiliates. Now armed with almost a complete roster the Fury skated to a 2-0 win. They happily returned to the hotel to clean up and recoup before the Finals. The only thing between our girls and their unwavering purpose were seventeen Vauxhall-Zone 5 players. “Eyes on the Prize Girls.” urged Coach Mike Kilbride and Assistant Coach Alf Todd as they focused their team for one last battle. With the reluctant ill player now back on the bench, the team was at full strength and ready to go to work. Vauxhall poured everything they had into each second but was no match for the determination of that Fury team. When the final horn blew the score was 2-0 and the Fort Saskatchewan Fury were the 2009 Midget B Provincial Champions.

The deafening sound of pandemonium filled the arena as the Fury celebrated in their crease. Donning their championship hats they humbly bowed their heads to receive their gold metals. “Champagne” corks flew and heartfelt speeches followed honoring these young female gladiators. The metals around their necks showed the world their dedication to achieve a goal, their battered and bruised bodies showed themselves. They truly lived the quote “No Guts, No Glory”.  Now packed up and heading home; they sat quietly; their bodies, healing.

The Fury was indeed blessed to have two Coaches with a wealth of hockey knowledge who generously volunteered their skills and time to the Midget Fury as they have no daughters on this team. They have transformed this group from a gaggle of girls to a TEAM, and challenged them every game to push past their limits and to dig deep to find their own inner strength. It was through their guidance and inspiration that this team was able to accomplish this great feat. Congratulations Fort Saskatchewan Midget Fury Team on winning the Provincial Championship. We are all very proud of you!

Fort Saskatchewan is fast becoming a powerful hub for female hockey. For some of the players on this Midget team this would be their fifth consecutive trip to the Provincial Tournament as Zone Champions with this being their second provincial title in five trys. Congratulations to Atoms and Bantam “A”s, they were also 2009 Zone Champions. The Atoms also won their Division Title in the Edmonton Minor Hockey Week Tournament.

The Fort Saskatchewan Fury 2009 Midget B Provincial Champions.
Stephanie Hauer
Madison Zayak
Katheryn McNain
Kaylyn McLean
Katelyn Sawatzky
Justine Larouche
Melissa Young
Jessica Billingsley
Kira Nyhuis
Kayelynn Gamble
Anna Hackmann
Taylor Berezanski
Sarah Reithmayer
Jessica Kampjes AP
Ashley Morin AP
Deanna Morin AP
Jena Movold AP
Krystal Reithmayer AP
Emma Cooley AP
Sara Miller AP

Head Coach: Mike Kilbride
Assistant Coaches: Alf Todd, Rick Thornton
Trainer: Connie Sawatzky
Manager: LeAnne Berezanski