MONCTON, N.B. – The Tantramar Titans participated in the Bleu et Or Female Hockey Tournament in Moncton this past weekend, posting one win and two losses throughout the competition.
In the first game of the round-robin, the Titans were matched up against the Polyvalente Thomas Albert Élites from Grand Falls. The Élites controlled the tempo early on with a very physical style of play and scored the game’s first goal late in the first period. As the game progressed, the Titans failed to match the Grand Falls squad’s physical play and fell to the Élites 4-0. Player-of-the-game honours went to smooth-skating senior Mackenzie Allen.
In game two, Tantramar was pitted against the very fast and highly-skilled Mathieu-Martin Vedettes, a team who had readily defeated them twice this season. In stark contrast to game one, the Titans came out with lots of grit and determination and showed no signs of being intimidated by the Vedettes. The hard-working Titans not only slowed down the Mathieu-Martin team, but at times played much better than their high-flying competition. Despite their efforts, Tantramar found themselves down by two goals after the first period.
Showing absolutely no quit, the team came out in the second with the same intensity and were rewarded with a goal as Delaney Acton found the back of the net. Kerrington Estabrooks assisted on the goal. Another goal by the Vedettes resulted in the score being 3-1 after two periods.
In the third period, the Titans once again drew to within a goal, this time on the power play as Alyssa Landry buried a strong wrist shot. Acton and Emma Vogels were credited with helpers on the goal. Unfortunately, Mathieu-Martin responded with a power play marker of their own and the final score ended up 4-2 with stand-out captain Acton being named player of the game.
The final game of the round robin was against the Miramichi Valley High School Pulamoo, winners of the Titan Your Skates tournament held recently in Sackville. The Titans came out with the same intensity and drive they showed against the Vedettes and played a very strong game against the Pulamoo.
Despite being down by a goal midway through the game, the team never relented and tied the score on a beautiful pass from Landry to Sarah Lowerison, who fired a powerful shot past the Pulamoo goaltender.
Continuing to push the play, the Sackville club was again rewarded as Abbey Morice scored an unassisted goal to give the Titans the lead. Behind the strong goaltending of Kimberly Cadman and consistent hard work from the entire team, the Titans held on to win the game 2-1.
Cadman, who once again was outstanding between the pipes, was selected as player of the game. Unfortunately, the team’s one win and two losses was not enough to move on to the playoff round of the tournament.
The Titans, being a young team and coming back from a one-year hiatus, have gone through some growing pains early on this season; however, with hard work and strong leadership from the veterans, the team has shown steady improvement as the season progresses.
The Lady Titans next home game is against the Riverview Royals on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 5:45 p.m. at the Tantramar Veterans Memorial Civic Center.
