Manitoba captures Bronze in ringette at Canada Winter Games

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This article was published 21/02/2019 (2135 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba’s under-21 ringette squad was trailing 1-0 less than three minutes into the game but staged a spirited rally before going on to beat British Columbia 6-4 in Friday’s bronze-medal showdown at the Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alta.

Oak Bluff’s Taylor Hildebrand, who scored to tie the game 1-1 midway through the opening period, and Grosse Isle’s Olivia McCowan, who sniped the eventual game-winner, potted a pair of goals each to lead the Manitoba attack.

Manitoba players appeared to be unfazed by the early deficit.

“It would be a concern if we didn’t react to it properly,” said Manitoba head coach Rob Walker via telephone. “I think we reacted properly. It was actually what we talked about before the game is we’re at our best when we maintain our patience and control of the rink. We’ve got firepower, we’ve got strong defence. It’s just a matter of how you react when something doesn’t go the way you want it on the ice. I think we got it back fairly soon thereafter.”

Celeste McElroy and Kaylee Spearing, both of Winnipeg, also scored for Manitoba.

Hailey Takasaki, with two, Emma Paradis and Ashley Robb replied with markers for B.C.

The Manitobans, who began the competition among the favourites to win gold, were unbeaten in four games before dropping a heart-breaking 7-5 decision to Quebec in Thursday’s semifinals.

“We knew we had to come out with a medal and we did it,” said the 20-year-old Hildebrand. “We had to put aside all the bad feelings from yesterday and just know that only 55 athletes get to come home with a medal. So we had to do what we had to do and we did it. It felt good to win.”

Added McCowan: “There’s so many players that don’t even make it to this stage and so for us, just to be here is awesome. And to walk away with a medal that’s something pretty special.”

McCowan, Hildebrand’s linemate from their Magic AA club team, was thrilled to do her part.

“I’m pretty happy to contribute to the team,” said the 18-year-old McCowan, who had her parents, sister and grandmother watching from the stands. “Anything I can do when I’m on the ice to help anyone around me always feels good.”

Walker was pleased with the strong rebound effort he witnessed after the disappointing semifinal loss.

“They got together (Friday) morning and talked about how we needed to come back out and refocus,” said Walker. “Gold was always the goal this season and it was certainly an achievable goal. If that (semifinal) game was five minutes longer, we could’ve been winning it. We’ve had good success against Quebec. We owned the season record against them; they just got the win when the game was more important. There was definitely some hangover from that.”

Spearing’s goal with 1:32 remaining in the game allowed the Manitoba bench to savour the moment after a frantic final stanza.

“Oh, I was sweating — it was craziness,” said Hildebrand. “When we got that insurance goal that’s when I could finally relax.”

 

GOING OUT IN STYLE: Manitoba’s men’s hockey team rebounded from a 6-3 quarter-final loss to Ontario with a 6-2 triumph over New Brunswick Thursday to advance to Friday’s fifth-place game against Nova Scotia.

Against Nova Scotia, Winnipeg’s Dawson Pasternak scored twice and added a pair of assists in a 7-5 win for the ‘Tobans.

Defenceman Carson Lambos, with a goal and an assist, while fellow Winnipeg forwards Connor Roulette and Eric Alarie chipped in with a goal and two assists each for the winners. Hunter Wallace of Oak Lake and Aidan Brook of Roblin had the other Manitoba markers.

Matt McDonald, Cole Foston, Connor Trenholm, Jacob Melanson and Cam Whynot replied with goals for the losers.

The Games take a day off Saturday before resuming competition Sunday.

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14