It was a reunion of sorts for local players at the 2015 BC Hockey Female Midget Championships in Penticton, March 16-19.
Despite not having a local club in the contest, 100 Mile House talent nonetheless shone bright at the provincial tournament, only on separate teams.
The Williams Lake Timberwolves, which included six 100 Mile House girls, finished third place with three wins and two loses, defeating Terrace, 3-2, in overtime on March 19 for the bronze. The 100 Mile girls contributed on a number of Williams Lake goals – Shian Remanente set up a goal in the third place game, while Breanna Uphill assisted on the game-winner by Caitlyn Ray. In the round robin, Uphill assisted twice in a 4-1 win over Kamloops and scored on the power play. Uphill scored in a 2-1 win over the Midget Impact.
Williams Lake's 100 Mile talent also included Katie Toews, who won the team's most improved player award, Katya Levermann and Anya Levermann.
Local skater Caily Mellott lit it up for Kamloops, scoring all four of the team's goals in the tournament, including a hat trick against Surrey, and one goal against Williams Lake. Kamloops didn't advance, but Mellott only needed three games to lead the tournament in scoring.
Richmond was the eventual champion.
Pete Montana is coach of Williams Lake. He says the 100 Mile House girls added a lot of depth to the team this season, the secret to their success all year.
“There's no way we would have been as good without the contributions from those six players... There were some really serious contributions.”
Richmond beat Williams Lake 1-0 in the round robin. That close contest was a sign of just how near the Timberwolves were to being the best, the coach says.
Montana talked to the Richmond coach after the game: “He said to me, 'You are the toughest team we have had to play against all year, and we did not want to play you.' I took that as a huge compliment to the girls.”
Montana has high hopes for next season. The club is only losing three girls to age ineligibility, two of them, Remanente and Uphill, from 100 Mile.
“We're pleased we got as close as we did [this season],” Montana says. “I know that next year, the 17 players we have coming back know exactly what it is they're going to have to do to win. And they believe they're going to win the gold medal next year.”
Montana thanked the club's parents, especially the 100 Mile parents who had a lot of driving to do throughout the year. The coach also thanked the 100 Mile House Wranglers organization for supplying the team's bus at a good rate for the trip, along with a great driver and portable skate sharpener.