THUNDER BAY QUEENS HOCKEY
Release date: Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013
Queens sweep to trio of Showcase titlesTHUNDER BAY – The Thunder Bay Queens wrapped up their annual Showcase Weekend at Fort William First Nation Arena in grand style as they were crowned champions in each of the three divisional finals held Sunday.
The day began with the Triad Contracting peewee Queens riding the stellar netminding of Josee Robinson as they blanked the Winnipeg East Saints 4-0.
That was followed by yet another shutout, this one registered by Samantha Stubbs, as the Manshield Construction bantam A side defeated the Fort Frances Leafs 3-0.
Wrapping up the proceedings in the Showcase finale were the First Class Gas bantam AA squad, who despite playing up an age bracket, edged the Schreiber North Shore Stars 3-2 to claim the midget title.
The following is the recap of each of the three Queens Showcase championship games held Sunday at Fort William First Nation Arena.
GAME 22: Peewee Final: Triad Contracting Queens 4 Winnipeg East Saints 0 – Thunder Bay once again rode the shutout goaltending of netminder Josee Robinson to blank Winnipeg East to capture the peewee championship at the Showcase.
The Queens would receive all the offensive production they would require on this day late in the first period as Brenna Nicol notched the eventual game-winner with an assist going to Carly Hennessey.
Special teams allowed the home side to extend their lead with the only goal of the middle session when Victoria Darosa and Molly Kunnas combined to set-up Mackenzie Lehto for a power play tally midway through the second stanza on their lone extra player advantage in the contest.
Thunder Bay then put the game away in the final frame getting markers from Darosa and Lucy Newman to round out the scoring. Adding helpers were Lehto, Kunnas, Hannah Leung and Meghan MacIssac.
Robinson and the club’s defensive corps did the rest for the squad as she was unbeatable posting her fourth straight shutout of the Showcase.
Rachelle Jeffrey was in net for Winnipeg in the loss.
This marks the second consecutive tournament crown for the peewee Queens as they also came away victorious from the All-American Girls tourney in Blaine, Minn., two week ago.
GAME 23: Bantam Final: Manshield Construction Queens 3 Fort Frances Leafs 0 – The second final at the Showcase also went the way of the Queens via the shutout as Samantha Stubbs turned aside all 13 attempts she faced to help lead her side to the bantam title.
This one saw the winning goal come off the stick of Caitlyn Arella 5:51 into the proceedings in what was the only marker of the opening period as she eluded Leafs goaltender Carly McKinnon.
Brenna Bohonos put Thunder Bay up a pair early in the second as she deposited a pass from Breanna Veneruz.
Tia Lampo then iced it for the Queens in the late going to help clinch the bantam crown.
Lauren Lightbody doled out a pair of assists to aid the cause for Thunder Bay while Victoria Zieroth and Katrina Cimini supplied single helpers in a game that saw the winners hold the edge in shots on goal by a 30-13 count.
GAME 24: Midget Final: First Class Gas Queens 3 Schreiber North Shore Stars 2 – The First Class Gas bantam AA Queens capped off a three-for-three performance in the finals for Thunder Bay as they joined their peewee and bantam A counterparts as Showcase champions.
It was dream start for the Queens as Emilie Varrin opening the scoring just 15 seconds after the opening face-off with Karadyn Kiviaho and Briana Prete drawing assists.
Kaylee Grosjean then added to the lead connecting unassisted before Schreiber’s Avery Figliomeni put her side on the with 24 seconds remaining in the first period.
Madeline Browczuk then fired home the eventual game-winner early in the second finishing off the efforts of Amanda Pages and Vanessa Nicholl.
Kayla Koevoet pulled the Stars to within one midway through the final frame, but that’s as close as they would get before time expired.
Makenna Burke was solid in net for the Queens in securing the win while Danielle Nadeau suffered the setback in the Schreiber goal.