The Cowichan Valley Bantam Female hockey team placed second in one of three female tournaments to start the New Year at Fuller Lake Arena and the Island Savings Centre Arena in Duncan.
Coming off a championship run at the Langley Angels on Ice Tournament on Dec. 30, the Cowichan Valley girls went looking for a repeat when they returned home to host the tournament Jan. 4-6.
But a powerful Ridge Meadows team had other ideas. Cowichan lost 3-2 to Ridge Meadows in the round robin and was eager for a rematch in the gold medal game.
The local girls got their wish, but were defeated again by Ridge Meadows 6-1. The breaks just didn’t go their way and they couldn’t recover after Ridge Meadows scored two goals early in the game.
The tournament opener for the team brought a 4-0 victory over Oceanside, the eventual bronze medalists.
Ella Stone (2), Kaliyah St. Amand and captain Taylor Svendson accounted for the scoring. They all also assisted on each other’s goals.
In the 3-2 Ridge Meadows loss, goals were scored by defenceman Bianca Steele and St. Amand. It was a great game, with Cowichan making a push but not quite able to tie it up.
Superb goaltending by Makenna Tew-Hansen ensured the game remained close.
Cowichan rebounded to blank Vancouver 9-0 in the final game of the round robin.
Svendson scored the lone goal of the first period. Intense pressure led to five more in the second period and three in the third.
Svendson finished with four goals, assistant captain Dakota Tew-Hansen added two and singles came from Camryn Waldron, St. Amand and Stone.
The only goal for Cowichan Valley in the gold medal game against Ridge Meadows came from Svendson on a penalty shot.
Earning the silver medal was still obviously a great showing for Cowichan.