The Okanagan Hockey Academy Female Prep team faced adversity in going 4-0-1 in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League showcase.
Claiming nine of 10 points made OHA coach Jim Fetter happy as his team wrapped up the showcase with a 3-1 win over Pursuit of Excellence on Nov. 15. Some of their wins, including the final one, came while trailing.
“I thought the team did a good job of rebounding and coming back and winning those games,” said Fetter.
After Paige McArthur opened the scoring a minute in for POE, the OHA slowly took over. Five minutes after McArthur’s goal, Mikayla Capelle got the OHA back on even terms on the power-play. Alexandra Rempe and Cyan Roepcke collected assists. Four minutes later, Miranda Gaudet netted the winner. In the second period, Lisa Lloyd popped in OHA’s third goal at 10:59. Alex Gulstene finished with 30 saves in the win.
“We want to go perfect. The big thing is, we were missing Alyssa MacMillan,” said Fetter, adding she was in North Dakota for the weekend with other future Fighting Hawks freshman where she will play next fall. “Missing one of our better players, it was great to see other players step up and be able to play and contribute.”
Fetter and his assistant coach worked on changing systems and he said it was executed well.
The OHA opened the showcase with a 5-3 win over Northern Alberta X-Treme on Nov.13. Scoring were Shelby Ferleyko, Ashley Barner, Gaudet, Capelle and Olivia Knowles. Aurore Beaulieu picked up the win. The OHA then defeated Banff 4-3 in a shootout. Capelle scored twice, including the shootout winner, while Gaudet and Stephanie Rempe scored once. Gulstene made 18 saves.
In a rematch against Banff, the OHA lost 2-1 in a shootout. Knowles scored the lone goal and Beaulieu made 22 saves.
The OHA faced the X-Treme a second time and won 3-2. Capelle and Roepcke put the OHA up 2-0 before the X-Treme hit the scoresheet on a goal by Sophie Lalor. Rempe added the OHA’s third goal. Gulstene made 27 saves.
The OHA female prep team began competing in the CSSHL this season while also playing in the Junior Women’s Hockey League. Fetter said it’s great for his team to be in the league as they play more teams and the scores are closer. Fetter added that shows the parity of Canadian female hockey.
On Friday, the OHA will be in Winnipeg to take on Edge School, then face JWHL opponents Warner School, Manitoba’s Balmoral Hall and Saskatchewan’s Notre Dame.