The Comox Valley Currents (all nine of them) ringette team ventured to the mainland to participate in a mini-tournament against the Vancouver Vipers, Fraser Valley Fusion and Surrey White Rock.
Their first game was against the Vancouver Vipers - the team they beat 8-4 at the West Coast Classic. Comox’s Kylie Barr was the first to score assisted by Lindsay Gammon and 20 seconds later Gammon scored unassisted. Vancouver tallied twice before the end of the first and we were all tied up for the second.
With 9:14 left on the clock, Gammon scored her second goal assisted by Barr and Danielle Egilson and the team was ecstatic. Things then took a dramatic turn with Vancouver scoring four more goals. Comox just couldn’t recover and the game ended at 7-3.
Game two against Fraser Valley Fusion had no score after one period (ringette games have two 20-minute periods). It wasn’t until 13:57 into the second period that the first goal was scored by Gammon with an assist from Emily Van Holderbeke. Fusion answered quickly with a goal and then again with nine minutes left on the clock.
With four minutes counting down, Inara Turner (who played defence the first half) scored the tying goal with Gammon and Gabrielle Guay assisting. With 0:46 seconds left on the clock and a player in the penalty box, coach Helen Oliphant called a time out. Fusion had possession in the Currents' end. The Currents had 46 seconds to gain possession and score - it was a long shot.
The whistle blew, Fusion had a miscommunication, their player misplayed the ring, so Gammon deftly stabbed the ring, passed to Turner, who then passed to Barr, who deked the goalie and scored with 29 seconds left on the clock.
With only six seconds to go the Currents got another penalty. With two players in the penalty box and only two defenders in their zone, the Comox team was able to kill the six seconds and win the game.
After that exciting finish the team headed to North Surrey to play Surrey White Rock. Comox was on a high from their nail-bitter win over Fraser Valley, so they came to play with a vengeance. Four minutes into the game Barr scored assisted by Gammon and nine minutes later Charly Mastrobuono scored assisted by Gammon.
Comox’s defence was on fire and completely shut out the other team. The score was 2-0 after one period and they continued to dominate through the second. Mastrobuono scored followed by Barr assisted by Egilson. Gammon scored next and Egilson scored the final goal assisted by Guay.
Comox Valley goalie Cole Champis had incredible, game-saving shot after shot. With two minutes left in the second, Surrey White Rock scored for a final score of 6-1.
"It was a great season for the Comox Valley Currents and it couldn’t have happened without the fabulous parents that give their time - driving their players to the rink, volunteering at tournaments and driving to the mainland just so we can play games," a spokesperson said.
"Thank you to the coaches (Trudy Barr, Haley Hill and Helen Oliphant) for giving their time to coach these amazing players. And, finally the players: it is so amazing to watch these players transform over the season growing into strong, capable and knowledgeable teammates by the end of the season."
To find out more about ringette or joining a team (registration is ongoing throughout the year) visit www.comoxvalleyringette.com.