Thunder win thrilling U12 final in OT

   Kayla Cormier completes a five goal performance lifting St. Thomas over Guelph

   10-9, in the gold medal game, at the Western Region ringette championships

Tuesday, April 2, 2019

By Rob J. Ross 

ST. THOMAS - Kayla Cormier has some overtime magic to remember.

The St. Thomas Thunder forward scored 40 seconds into the extra session lifting her team over Guelph, 10-9, in the under-12 gold medal game, at the Western Region ringette championships, at the East Elgin Community Centre.

Cormier also tied the game, with four and half minutes left in the second half, her fourth of five goals in the game.

Allyson Mantel also had a hat trick, in a wide open offensive affair. Miya Sutcliffe and Faith Mulholland completed the Thunder scoring. Mulholland also picked up two assists, while Mantel, Alexa Hurn, Keeva Logan, Raghad Aljouma and Promise Atkinson, each had one helper.

"That game was intense. It was so back and forth the whole time. It was exhilarating," Thunder head coach Brittany Vance said. "When Kayla scored that goal, the bench literally erupted. I just remember a lot of jumping, screaming and players fleeing from the bench to surround Kayla with excitement. All the coaches hugged. It was an awesome moment."

The two teams traded goals throughout the game. It was 6-6 at half-time.  Guelph's Grace Hendry led all players with seven goals in the game.

"All weekend I had been stressing to the team to get lots of shots and to move the goalie," said Vance. "The team play was excellent and our passing was good, which helped set up all the goals."

In a very competitive division, all four teams went 1-1-1 in the round robin. The Thunder had the best goal differential at plus four, to earn a spot in the gold medal game.

"The team had the best attitude and I think that is what stood out for me," said Vance. "They stayed positive, despite the loss right before the final. They were supportive of one another and all of them helped the team win in their own individual ways."

St. Thomas opened the tournament with a 7-1 rout of the Dorchester Dragons.

Cormier had a hat trick and Mantel, two goals, while Sutcliffe and Aljouma had singles.

Mantel with two goals, Cormier and Logan scored, in a 4-4 tie with Guelph.

In the final pool game, Forest built a 4-1 lead by half-time, on their way to defeating St. Thomas, 5-3. Cormier bulged the twine twice for the Thunder and Mantal had one.

"Kayla had a good weekend all around. She is one of our strong veteran players and she has been a goal scorer all year because of her speed and aggressive style of play," Vance said. "Kayla, along with Allyson Mantel, were my two centres all year and the leaders of our team. But they wouldn't have been as strong without the support of all the other players on the team, veterans and rookies alike, who all were awesome, and improved and grew all year long.

"It would be wrong to not shout out to our goalie, Maggie Bougie, who stopped a break-away in sudden death, just before Kayla's goal."

Dorchester won the U12 bronze medal, blanking Forest, 4-0. Maggie Daniel, Eve Jackson, Mila Kowalski and Alexandra Coelho scored. Goalie Parker Hawker posted the shutout.

In pool play, Jackson had the hat trick as Dorchester knotted it up at three with Forest. Avery Brady had Dorchester's lone goal in the loss to St Thomas. Jackson scored with 26 seconds remaining in the second half, lifting Dorchester to a 5-4 win over Guelph. Daniel, with two goals, Avery Brady and Kowalski, also scored for the Dragons.

The last minute Dorchester win, left all teams at 1-1-1, benefiting St. Thomas. A tie or Guelph win would have had Guelph and Forest playing for gold.

St. Thomas teams won two gold medals and a silver at regionals. The U14 Thunder are also champions, while the U16s settled for silver, falling in overtime to Kitchener.