Big Cat Showdown keeps prowling 

   Tournament features 45 teams in nine divisions with host club winning

     two divisions while BAD Girls Blazers take the Bantam B title

Sunday September 23, 2018

By Rob J. Ross 

ST. THOMAS  -  Athina Smith and her St. Thomas Panthers teammates capped a successful weekend at the Big Cat Preseason Showndown.

Smith scored twice as the Panthers defeated the Woodstock Wildcats, 4-1, in the midget A final, at the Joe Thornton Centre.

The bantam A Panthers also won gold, while the midget BB and atom A/BB Panthers had to settle for silver medals.

The Big Cat tournament featured 45 teams in nine divisions, with players travelling from far away as Sarnia, Windsor and Buffalo, to visit the Railway City. The tournament has become so popular that 18 teams were on a waiting list. But, organizers didn't have any more available ice to create additional divisions, due to Memorial Arena not opening until a day after the tournament concluded.

Games were also held in Belmont and Aylmer.

The tournament is a final tune-up for regular season action, many teams playing in the Lower Lakes Female Hockey League or Western Ontario Girls Hockey League.

For Smith and her teammates, their pre-game preparation proved vital in winning the final, to complete a 5-0 run in their division.

"We took longer before the game. Usually we have a short warm-up, but this time we took a long one and really got our heads into the game," said Smith. "This is a new team and we've been trying to get way closer together. Before every game it's the same routine."

Communication and following the coaches' game plan also is building team chemistry.

"We talk a lot. When we talk, we communicate (on the bench) and that always goes out. We talk about our set plays," Smith added. "We're coming together really well."

Gracie Clinton had a goal and an assist, while Kendra Hulst opened the scoring for St. Thomas.  Arisa Hansen picked up two assists, while Kayla Lentz, Rachelle Charron, Rachel Johnston and Jessie Slade, had single helpers.

BIG CAT FINALS

St. Thomas won the bantam A final, edging the Mississauga Chiefs, 2-1, in a shootout. Brianna Caeiro potted the decisive goal. Jaime Neto gave the Chiefs a 1-0 lead, before Panther Hayley Umansky tied the affair, with Christine Annett and Ella Gilchrist picking up assists.

Laura Clark and Ashley Stratton, both had a goal and an assist, as the BAD Girls Blazers doused the West Oxford Inferno, 3-0, in the Bantam B final. Tegan Campbell also scored.

The Kitchener Lady Rangers held on to defeat the St. Thomas Panthers, 2-1, in the Atom A final. Kitchener led 2-0 after two periods, on goals by Emarson Kraan and Addison Koktan. Karis Beattie scored unassisted late in the third period and the Panthers almost tied the game in the final minute.

Alana Bauman had the only goal as the Woolwich Wild blanked St. Thomas, 1-0, in the Midget BB final.

The Sarnia Lady Sting doubled up on the Lambeth Lancers, 4-2, in the Atom B gold medal game. Lily Bressette, Daryn Fraser, Layla Knight-Martineau and Addison MacLeod scored for Sarnia. Lauren Stewart tallied twice for Lambeth.

First period goals by Brookelyn Nagel and Grace Taylor held as the Haldimand Rivercats edged the Hamilton Hawks, 2-1, in the Peewee B final.  Lillian Doleman replied for Hamilton. 

Chloe Wight scored nine seconds into overtime, to lift the Ancaster Avalanche over the Whitby Wolves, 3-2, in the Peewee A gold game. Whitby led 2-0 after one period, with goals from Olivia Starr and Caileigh Drong. But Ancaster rallied to tie, thanks to Keelyn McKinnon and Erin Hull scoring.

Talia Schofield and Britt Hackner bulged the twine during the shootout, as the North Durham Blades got past the Haldimand Rivercats, 2-1, in the Midget B final. Blade Madison Thompson and Rivercat Lorelai Burke, traded goals during regulation time.

The St. Thomas Panthers host their Panthers on the Prowl tournament, December 7-9.