A team without a goaltender, the Vancouver Angels went undefeated through the playoffs and blanked the competition Saturday in an overtime shoot-out to win the girls peewee C1 championship 3-2 over the Chilliwack Warriors.
Two years ago the goaltender for these now 11-and 12-year-old girls joined the boys' ranks, team manager Cindy Leong wrote to tell the Courier. Since then, the Angels have relied on a rotating roster of net-minders drawn from their forward line. This season, three players stepped up but one opted to stay at centre, the other was injured on the slopes.
Brielle Davies opened scoring for Chilliwack before Vancouver's Brianna Bryant equalized later in the first frame with a shot over the shoulder of the Warrior's goaltender.
Caisey Cox made it 2-1 Chilliwack and again Vancouver answered. Angels captain Danica Wilmink tied the game on a power play with a hard shot from the blueline.
Tied at two goals apiece, the championship game headed to a shoot-out. Brianna Bryant scored first for Vancouver by firing a shot into the top left corner of the net. It proved to be the game-winner.
Goaltender Emma Best shut out Chilliwack's five shooters.
A new banner will now hang over home ice at the Killarney Rink for the Angels Peewee C1 hockey team. This is the second championship for the Vancouver Girls Ice Hockey Association.
mstewart@vancourier.com
Twitter: @MHStewart
