CSI bantam girls mine silver in Onoway tourney

The Stettler Bantam CSI Storm girls’ hockey team had a successful weekend in Onoway on Jan. 28 and 29.

Saturday started off with a loss to Onoway in a close 2-1 game.

In the afternoon game against Beaverlodge, Stettler pulled off the win with a 2-1 final score.

Sunday started off with a tough game against Red Deer. With their team short two players to begin with and then on Sunday three of the team were at Winter Games practice, so this left their team with only eight skaters and the girls pulled off 2-0 win. Lindsey McKinnon posted the shutout.

The eight girls skated their hearts out and never gave up. Their determination advanced them to the final game, which was bittersweet as it meant they had an hour and half recovery time before they played in the final game.

They played with drive and effort, but they were just not able to keep up the pace for a full three periods. Lindsey had some great saves that kept the team in the game, but in the end exhaustion overtook.

The girls kept pace with the Onoway team for half the game keeping the score within one. Halfway through the second period was the turning point in the game and Stettler ended up losing in a 6-1 final.

This past weekend, the girls were in Forestburg playing in Kelsie Litke and Sarah Mazrek’s hometown against Camrose.

After years of travelling to Stettler for hockey and with a brand new arena in Forestburg, they were finally able to showcase their brand-new facility in front of hometown crowds.

The Storm ended up beating Camrose 3-0.

Sunday, it was off to Hobbema where the final score was 15-1. The Storm are first in their division and are excited to be hosting the female bantam B provincials in Stettler on March 15-18. There will be nine teams, plus the Stettler CSI Storm, involved in the four-day tournament.