BRANTFORD, Ont – The Thunder Bay McDonald’s Midget Bears have finished their season strong at the 36th annual Walter Gretzky Girls Hockey Tournament in Brantford, Ontario after winning all their games to take gold. The biggest girls’ hockey tournament in Ontario – over 125 all girls’ teams - saw a U.S. versus Canada match in the final game.
Friday’s action saw Thunder Bay begin with a 2-0 triumph over Gloucester Cumberland before wrapping up the day with a 2-1 hard fought victory over the Haldimand Rivercats.
Saturday saw Thunder Bay pounce on Brantford Ice Cats 3-0 to put them in the semi-final game.
Sunday’s semi-final action saw Thunder Bay Bears beat Scarborough Sharks in a nail biting OT win shootout. In game play, Scarborough scored first with goal in the middle of the 2nd period. Thunder Bay fought back with a pass from Anna Closs to Rachel Morgan who buried the puck deep in the net to tie up the game. The score stayed tied throughout the 3rd and OT play. A game-deciding shootout saw goals from Anna Closs and Katie Filipovic to give the win to Thunder Bay and put them in the final game.
Final game play saw Thunder Bay Bears defeat the Wheatfield Blades from New York. The scoring started in the 2nd period with Anna Closs tipping in a slapshot from Rachel Morgan. Then Rachel Morgan ripped another bullet in the net with an assist from Megan Kubinec, putting Thunder Bay up 2-0. Wheatfield fought back with a goal in the 3rd but couldn’t find the net to tie up the game, giving the win to Thunder Bay.
Thunder Bay’s Bears went 5-0 for the weekend, with netminder Paige Wilson having 2 shutouts and allowing only 3 goals in during the entire tournament.
