Ladies Tier 1 Wrap Up!

For the Championship team phot please click on the following link...

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10157388460520422&set=gm.10157394985845584&type=3&theater

This year in our Ladies Tier 1 we continued to see Norstar Ladies and Victorious Secret be the cream of the crop when it comes to ladies teams as they once again finished 1,2 in the final standings.  The remaining 5 teams for this division were competative enough that any team could beat one another on any given night.  Playoffs have been known to display some pretty unexpected results, which is why we don't crown the divisional leaders with the championship after the regular season.

Our first playoff matchup for this division would be a 1 game Wild Card game between 7th place Ball Hoggs and 6th place Birds & The Beaves.  The winner would move on to face a tough Ringleaders squad that were last summers Tier 2 Champions.....The first period in this one would be an even tilt with teh Ball Hoggs taking a slight edge in shots but neither team would be able to light the lamp after one.....The Hoggs however would quickly strike in the second on a nice passing play that saw Grainger finish on passes from Da Ponte and Tomasi at 14:57.  If not for this marker the game most certainly would have went a lengthy over time as both teams gave it thier all down the stretch but Hoggs goalie Van Valkenburg and her defence would not allow the equalizer that the BnB team desperately strived for.....A lot of close games this season for the Birds and the Beaves team so it was fitting that one more tight one would ultimately send them packing for summer.  With a little more finish and maybe some bounces in their favor and this season goes diferently but none the less there is lots of possitives to pull from for this BnB team moving forward.  Ball Hoggs were right back at it two days later as they now needed to face the 3rd seeded Ringleaders.

Quarter Final #1 would be between the Ladies Tier 2 Champions of 2015 'Ringleaders" vs the Ladies Tier 1 Runner-Up from this past winter season "Ball Hoggs"......Game 1 saw a scoreless tie after 1 period dispite the Hoggs being badly outshot 10-3 in the frame.....The Ringleaders would continue their dominence early on in the 2nd as Janmaat would pull the trigger and snipe the clay pigeon passed to her from line mate M. Deveaux at 14:21 to put her team out front 1-0.  This apparently woke up the Ball Hoggs team as they completely turned around their game and took it to the Ringleaders shift after shift who seemed to lose their steam once taking the lead.  With that said, Ringleaders net minder was up for the task and apparently capable of bailing her out played team out of trouble repeatedly as she would stop all 15 shots she faced in the 2nd and 18 in total to record the shut out and record her team a much needed W in this short best of 3 series......Game #2 would see a much more balanced game throughout and a more disciplined defensive game from each side.  The teams would trade goals in the first as the Ringleaders struck early while the Ball Hogss would draw things even at 1's on a late period goal......The second period was played with caution as neither team were able to generate much in the way of scoring chances for most of the period and as is usually the case in tight games, specialty teams would loom large!  With roughly 6 minutes remaining a Ball Hoggs player was caught for a holding penalty which would open the door for the Ringleaders to not only take the lead but also put a strangle hold on their opponents. It took not even 30 seconds for "Loft" to seize on the oppertunity and give her team the lead with a PP goal assisted from "Genereaux" with less than 6 minutes remaining in the game.  It would prove to be enough for the game winner as the Hoggs could not solve the Ringleaders goalie late and fell 2-1 in the game and 2-0 in the series.  The Ball Hoggs also played in a lot of close games this season but considering their Winter Season success the opening round exit will be viewed by some as a minor set back.  The good thing about ball hockey though is that another season is always around the corner and with it quickly comes the chance for redemption. The Ringleaders would move on to play the 2nd seeded Victorios Secret team who had been sitting idle through the first round awaiting an opponent.

Quarter Final #2 would showcase two very even teams in the standings with our 4th place "Slashers" and 5th place "Legends" who were only seperated by 4 points after the regular season.......Slashers were dominent to start this one outshooting the Legends team 12-5 which contributed to a 1-0 lead after one.......the second would be back and forth for both teams and though the shots would be even at 15 a peice it would remain to be only the Slashers who could bulge the twine until late in this one as they potted 2 more goals on their way to a 3-1 win and a 1-0 series lead.  Sabina Scott led the way for the Slashers with 2G & 1A in this one, with strong support from Sara Hurgett who had 1G & 2A.  Each player would receive a game star and were uge factors i ensuring their team the win.....Game #2 continued with the fast pace that Game #1 finished with as both teams went back and forth trading chances that resulted in the Legends team leading the way midway through the first with a slight 2-1 win with 2 goals coming from forward "Sammut" who was also their lone goal scorer late in game one.  The Slashers would surge back in this one ending the period with 3 unanswered goals to take a convincing 4-2 lead into the second......The Legends who came out flying in the first had little left in thier tank for much of a push back in 2nd as they could only mustre 6 shots on goal while giving up one in the process to increase their deficipt to 5-2 and eventually bow out to the supperior Slashers teams who were once again led by "Scott" who put up a tremendous effort with 3G and 1A to once again secure the games first star and the series win for her Slashers team.......The Legends would end this season as a middle of the pack team who could have easily advanced in this series as much as they ended up exiting it but the better team during these two games did prevail and thus the Legends will need to regroup and find a way to get to the next level the next time playoffs come around.  For the Slashers, they would now have the unenviable fate of facing the Diviional Leaders and defending champion Norstar Ladies in the Semi Finals.

Semi Final #1 would display the talents of 2015 Tier 1 Summer Champions as well as the 2015-16 Tier 1 Winter Champions in the Norstar Ladies up against an increasingly stronger team in the Slashers who have consistantly be recognized as one of the top half teams in the entire ladies league.......Game #1 started off tough for the Slashers as Norstar pounced off the opening facepoff and took very little time in striking first as "Walters" would hit net only 38 seconds into the game.  Things did not fair any better for the Slashers throughout the first as they could only manage 4 shots agaist the relentless attack of the Norstar team who pelted 18 shots on the Slashers net.  The score would remain 1-0 due to some great goaltending from "Smieja" until she was left helpless on a Norstar PP who would make no mistake in notching the game up to 2-0.  The game could stillhave been in reach dispite being badly out played if they could get out of the frame only down by 2 but nfortunately a late period talley with only 25 seconds remaining would create a mountain too high to climb.....With a convincing 3-0 lead heading into the second it appeared that the Norstar team took the foot of the pedal some as the press for attack was less imminent while they continued to contol the play and out shoot their opponents 10-3 enroute to a 3-1 Victory as Slashers finished by getting on the board and ending with some confidence scoring with under a minute to play.  If the Slashers could solve the stellar play of the Norstar defence they would be given the goaltending by "Smieja" needed to compete.  Norstar looked like a well oiled maching and were led up front by "McIntosh" who netted a Goal and added a helper.........Game #2 would unfortuantley fall on a night that resulted in many Slasher players having prior commitments which an extremely rare playoff forfeit would be the end result and disapointing way to end the Slashers season.  The Slashers however continue to improve and reach new heights.  Lots to look forward to with this team for seasons to come.  Norstar would now be well rested and ready to face whomever in the Tier 1 Final as they look to defend their Summer Championship.

Semi Final #2 would bare witness to the Ladies Tier 1 Champions of 2014, runners up from 2015 and the 2nd seed in 2016 after the regular season who would match up against last summers Tier 2 champions and this seasons 3rd seeded Ringleaders.....Game #1 allowed the Victorious Secret team an oppertunity to show how dominant of a team they can be and despite an even game at 1-1 the momentum and flow of the game could not be any further from even as Victorious Secret out shot the Ringleaders 20-3 in the opening frame.  Stellar goaltending by Smieja allowed for a her team to have a chance all game long but scoring oppertunities were not easy to come for her Ringleaders players and thus the game one defeat to Vic Secret 2-1 who was led with 1G and 1A from Emily Rowe. Even with getting nailed for the loss, Ringleaders goalie played well enough to earn the games first star with her 29 saves on 31 shots........would the RIngleaders be able to answer the offensive bell in Game #2?.......The quick answer is no!  Though after the first period of game 2 the Ringleaders found themselves out front of Vic on shots 10-9  and only trailing 2-1.....That was it however for the Ringleaders.....a game and a half of throwing everything they could at Victorious Secret was clearly not going to be enough and took all the steam the Ringleaders steam engine could endure.  Victorious Secret was lead by #67 Amber Easter who recorded 1G & 3A for a big 4 point night and she was supported with 2 goals of her own by  line mate McMannis.  The Vic Secret team will now face off in the Tier 1 finals vs arch rival Norstar Ladies for a repeat of last years final which saw Norstar win in 3 games.  The Ringleaders have climbed to incredible heights in there short LBHA carreer and we look to follow them more for years to come.

The Ladies Tier 1 Final was between two well known teams and arguably was the final that many suspected all along.  The last 3 summer seasons these two teams have altered year to year to year Championships with Norstar winning 2013, Victorius Secret winnning 2014 and Norstar Ladies again winning 2015.  Would the trend continue and thus crown Victorious Secret as this years champions or would Norstar Ladies break the trend and retain their title by winning back to back ships?.....Game #1 featured a strong defensive battle by each team as much of the game was played in the neutral zone and along the boards as neither team was able to penetratethrough their oppenants defence to sustain much of an offensive attack throughout this game.  The entire games shots was 12 shots a peice however the ability to capitolize on the few chances they worked themselves into was critical in Victorious Secret taking the opening game with a convincing 3-0 Win.  This game was much closer than the score may indicate but none the less Vic Secret were the better team when it came to scoring on this evening and at the end of the game that is all that matters.  Goaltender Rhea Skowronski-Mattson threw the shut out for Victorious Ladies and forward Amber Easter provided another solid game up front adding another Goal and Assist to her playoff totals........Game #2 saw a much quicker and stronger Norstar team out of the gates and though they took it to the Victorious team most of the opening period they failed to score and were deadlocked in a 0-0 tie after the first period.......Victorious Secret managed to regroup inbetween periods and got out to a quick start of their own in the 2nd as they lit the lamp only 52 seconds into the period on a goal from "Parker" from "Tiseo" to put their team 15 minutes away from winning the Championship!  Norstar Ladies were not quite ready to relinquish their crown however and wasted no time showing Vic that very fact as "Grosse" netted a nice pass from Mehuish to draw things even only 24 seconds after they fell behind.  The next 10 minutes were played cautiously as both teams were defensivly responsible to ensure no odd number chances could be created against them......that is until Kelly Patton put the Norstar ladies out in front late to take game 2 and force a deciding game 3.  Mulligan and Golsing were credited with the game winning goal for Norstar.....Game #3 which is the LBHA version of a Game 7 would decide the ladies ball hockey supremecy for another calandar year.  Both teams would revert to their close checking ways of game one with Norstar gaining a slight edge in first period shots, leadign the way 7-5.  Mulligan for Norstar would make the best of one of those extra shots as she gave Norstar the lead with over 5 minutes remaining in the period which they would hold on to into the half time break.  It was now Vicotrious Secrets time to answer the bell and show they too were not ready to roll over and die which is exactly what they did by scoring twice in the opening 2:30 on goals from Duffield and Easter.  Victorious now had the lead and another Championship within their grasp.  Goaltender Skowronski-Mattson was determined and successful in fending off the late push by the Norstar Ladies and obtaing not only the win but also the Championship Trophy along with her team with the final ending 2-1 and a 2-1 series win for Victorious Secret.  Both these teams continue to be not only the cream of the crop in the LBHA Ladies Division they are both touted as two of the best ladies teams in all of Ontario!

Congrats to Victorious Secret for winning the Tier 1 Title, "The Tide is High" once again for these ladies, also congrats to Norstar Ladies on a regular season first place finish, backed up with a solid playoff run and Championship runner up.  The LBHA is honoured to have such fine teams in our program and their continued succes makes all our ladies teams strive to be better and attempt to reach new heights!