Spartans Girls Hockey Team
2006-2007
Team roster and schedule
Coaches - Adam Spirk, Dugie Ross, J.D. Ross
Stanstead College Girls Invitational Hockey Tournament
Monday, February 19
Girls fall 2-1 in a hard-fought game vs Queen of Angels Academy
The girls hockey team travelled to Dorval Arena in Dorval, Quebec Monday to play against Queen of Angels Academy. It was a cold ride to the rink as the heating couldn’t overpower the poorly sealed windows.
QAA was a team we knew nothing about but were aware that they played some tough teams. The game started with a friendly group photo of both teams which set the tone for a classy game. Both teams came out hard in the first period with the puck going back and forth for most of it. QAA had the best scoring chance but Lindsay Smith (Stanstead, Quebec) stood on her head and made some phenomenal saves. After a period of play it was 0-0 with QAA edging out Stanstead on shots.
The second period started out with much of the same, hard-nosed hockey and lots of movement. The Spartans missed some quality chances which came back to haunt as QAA capitalized with a very nice individual effort. Midway through the second period it was 1-0 QAA and they were pressing for more. Stanstead defended very well against a strong QAA offensive attack and kept the shots to the outside. Unfortunately, off a bad line change, QAA penetrated the zone 4-2 and score with 5 seconds left making it a 2-0 game at the end of the second period.
It was a demoralizing moment but the girls’ bounced back and came out flying in the third period. It was nice to see cross-ice passing and creativity in the offensive zone. The hard work paid off when Charlene McKinnon (Stanstead, Quebec) gave Lisa McNamara (Stanstead, Quebec) a beautiful pass up the middle. McNamara worked a give-and-go with Patricia Thibault (Ottawa, Ontario) and scored to pull to within one.
With under 5 minutes to play, the Spartans were trailing 2-1 and were determined to tie the game. Many quality rushes formed and there were scrambles in front but the girls just couldn’t get the equalizer. It was a hard-fought game and everyone should be proud of their efforts. Congratulations to Lindsay Smith for her standout play and to Queen of Angels for their hospitality after the game.
- Coach Spirk
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Saturday, January 20
Late game heroics puts Stanstead on top 5-4
 The senior girls hockey team traveled to Wolfeboro, New Hampshire to play against Brewster Academy’s junior varsity team. Having never seen the varsity team play but having heard of their years of dominance, we weren’t sure what to expect. Arriving 10 minutes before the opening faceoff didn’t help either! With no expectations but th knowlege that we've been playing with confidence of late, the team seemed ready for the challenge.
The game started and it was evident that four players were in a class of their own -- four varsity players in need of conditioning due to injury who had suited up for the junior varsity team. Our defence figured it out quickly as early on one of the varsity players walked around the Spartan defence and scored to make it 1-0.
From that point on, the Spartan defence took over. Short-staffed and logging a lot of ice time, they never gave up and stopped countless odd man rushes. The play went back and forth as did the scoring. Patricia Thibault (Ottawa, ON) tied the game 1-1 midway through the first period on a low shot that went through the goalie's legs. Brewster answered right back and made it 2-1 off a scramble in front. Stanstead tied the game 2-2 when Danielle Maynard (Riverview, NB) scored her first of the game. For the first time in the game, Stanstead took the lead 3-2 when Derinda Kocik (Yellowknife, NWT) capitalized on a turnover and made Brewster pay by burying the puck behind the goalie. Brewster answered back as had been the case all game and tied it up 3-3.
In the third period Stanstead got its fourth goal and the second of the game for Patricia Thibault. Brewster then tied it up, and with 30 seconds left the scoreboard read 4-4. It was a faceoff in Stanstead’s zone and it looked as though Brewster was going to do some damage when Danielle Maynard intercepted a pass and went down on a breakaway. With seven seconds left Danielle made no mistake and gave the Spartans' a 5-4 lead. The puck dropped with seven seconds to play and Stanstead protected the puck until the final buzzer rang. A great game defensively and some good offensive production!
- Coach Spirk
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Wednesday, January 17
2-2 tie against Galt feels like a win
The senior girls traveled to Alexander Galt to play the Pipers for the third time this season. The first two games were heavily one-sided with Galt coming out on top 7-0 and 4-1.
In this third game, the Spartans came out ready to play. They stuck to the game plan and played incredible defense. They capitalized on turnovers and by the end of the second period it was 2-1 for Galt. The lone Stanstead goal was a beauty as Danielle Maynard (Riverview, NB) took a pass from Patricia Thibault (Ottawa, ON) and shot top corner from the slot.
Going into the third period you could feel the momentum shift, and right of the faceoff Stanstead took it to the Pipers. It was back and forth the whole period, and with 7:30 minutes to go Danielle Maynard pinched in at the blue line, cut to the centre of the ice and roofed one top corner for her second goal of the game. After suffering two humiliating loses, the Spartans now were right where they wanted to be.
The Galt girls looked to turn it up a notch after realizing that the Spartans were for real. Even with this burst of energy, Stanstead weathered the storm with sound defensive play. With 18 seconds left Galt was awarded a power play with the faceoff to the left of goalie Lindsay Smith (Stanstead East, QC). Galt won the faceoff and managed to get off two quality shots which were turned away by the stellar young goaltender. The buzzer went and the scoreboard read 2-2, but to everyone on the ice, Stanstead had won the game. Congratulations girls, it was a beautiful thing to watch!
-Coach Spirk
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Saturday January 13
Spartans defeat border rivals 4-3
A friendly rivalry has developed between the Spartans and the North Country High School team from Newport, Vt., who they share the Stanstead Arena with. In the first meeting of the year, Stanstead took the game 1-0. In the second contest, Stanstead was looking for much of the same.
The game started off right with Stanstead taking a 1-0 lead half way through the first period off a goal by Patricia Thibault (Ottawa, ON). North Country tied the game early in the second period with a nice goal by Nicole Nelson. Stanstead regained the lead two minutes later when Corissa McComber (Kahnawake, QC) positioned herself in front and banged home a rebound from the crease. Shortly after, Patricia Thibault scored her second of the game on a fantastic end-to-end rush capped off by a nice move to beat the goalie and put the Spartans up 3-1.
North Country wouldn’t give up, and at the seven minute mark of the third period, Allison Neumayer brought her team to within one. With four minutes to play in the second period, Preslee Jacobs crossed the blue line and beat Lindsay Smith with a slapshot to tie the game at 3-3.
The third period started off slow but halfway through, captain Lisa McNamara fought in front and pushed in a lose puck to give the Spartans the lead 4-3. North Country attempted numerous attacks but Stanstead’s defence held them off to give the Spartans a 1-0 record in the New Year! Congratulations girls!
- Coach Spirk
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November Break: Connecticut road trip
The girls hockey team traveled to Connecticut to play five exhibition games against different club teams in the greater Connecticut area. The trip started off with a bang as the girls got off the bus in Cromwell 20 minutes before there first game against the U-14 Connecticut Polar Bears. It was a hard-fought match and, being the first game of the season, the girls looked great! The Polar Bears came out strong and scored first to put them up 1-0. It remained this way until Patricia Thibault (Ottawa, Ontario) scored the Spartans' first goal of the season midway through the second period off a pass from Sara O’Connor (Stanstead, Quebec) to tie the game at 1-1. The game stayed tied, and much thanks for this has to go to goalie Lindsay Smith (Stanstead, Quebec) for making 35 saves.
Friday the girls had a stronger opponent in the Darien U-14 team in Stamford. They were very quick and it showed that they had been playing since September. It also didn’t help that the Spartans spent the day gallivanting around downtown New York City! The girls did their best to keep up with a much faster team and managed to do so very well. The game could have gone either way but, unfortunately for the Spartans, it went Darien’s way in the form of a 2-0 win. All of Stanstead’s defenders had a great game! Lindsay Smith was very impressive in goal, making an outstanding 48 saves.
Saturday morning, the girls had to get up early for a 9:30 a.m. contest against the Connecticut Polar Bears U-16 team in Northford. The girls must have slept well because they came out flying! Shortly into the first period, Patricia Thibault took a pass from Helen White (Newport, Vt.), worked her way around the outside of the defender and shot the puck top corner to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead. This lead held for much of the game and a much more experienced Polar Bears team called a time-out with 4 minutes to play to try to find a way to figure out this Spartans team. It was a shot from the left hash marks that deflected off a defender and snuck passed the Stanstead goalie with 2:56 to play that tied the game 1-1. The girls played there hearts out and again honorable mention has to go to stand out goalie Lindsay Smith who made 37 saves.
Saturday evening, after spending the day running around shopping in Connecticut, the girls drove to Simsbury to take on the Connecticut Northern Lights U-14 team. This was the strongest team we faced and it showed right from the drop of the puck. The Northern Lights were in a class of their own but it allowed Stanstead to work on there defensive zone coverage. It was a hard-fought match in which Stanstead was on the losing end of a 5-1 finish. This was a very strong opponent and the girls never gave up, which is a true testament to their devotion to the team. Interesting fact: The Northern Lights were coached by ex-NHLer Scott Daniels.
Sunday morning was the last game of a busy road trip but a memorable one. The girls had learned a lot over the first four games and this really showed in this game against the U-19 West Haven Blue Devils in West Haven. Everyone was forechecking well and constantly intercepting passes to create counter attacks. It was a beautiful sight! The passing was crisp and the defensive zone coverage was excellent. It was on a turn over at the opposing blue line that Stanstead scored there first goal. Danielle Maynard (Riverview, NB) intercepted a pass and let a slapshot go from the point that the goalie had no chance on. After two periods of play, the Spartans were hanging on to a 1-0 lead. The coach made it clear that if we win the period we win the game. Shortly into the third period, Danielle Maynard let another shot go from the blue line that deflected off a defenceman and found the back of the net. To add insurance to the 2-0 cushion, Charlene McKinnon (Stanstead, Quebec) off a pass from Nathalie Shaw (Stanstead, Quebec) found the back of the net and sealed the 3-0 victory for the Spartans. It was their first win of the season and a well-deserved one as they worked so hard to achieve this. There is no better way to end a road trip than with a win and even better giving Lindsay Smith a well-deserved shut out after standing on her head for the team all weekend. A final thanks to Mr. Ross for driving endless hours to make this possible!
Congratulations girls! You should all be very proud of your efforts!
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