www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday May 10, 2008 - 23 ADVERTORIAL Provincial and League Championships for Hornet Atom AA's The Oakville Hornets Atom AA team capped an incredible season with an Ontario Women's Hockey Associations Provincial Title and Lower Lakes Female Hockey League Championship in consecutive weekends. OWHA Provincial Championship The Oakville Hornets captured the coveted Provincial Championship on April 13 by defeating London Devilettes 3-0 in the gold medal game. The Devilettes, recovering from an OT semi final win against Waterloo, were out matched by the talent laden Hornets. The game remained scoreless until late in the first when Hornets centre Kaitlyn McAllister teamed up with Taylor McMahon on a nifty give and go to generate the opening goal. The Hornets locked up the provincial title with two more unanswered goals by Kaitlyn Norris and McMahon. "All weekend they tried to shut down our speed with tight checking", explains Coach Lou Merrick. "So we adjusted our game plan to use the boards and open ice better and the girls adapted perfectly." two Oakville Hornet (18-3-3). The fast pace game remained scoreless until late in the 2nd period when centre Olivia Atkinson slipped a puck pass a sliding Whitby goalie. Whitby pressed hard to even it up but Oakville's defense denied any good scoring chances and the lone goal Lower Lakes Female Hockey was all Oakville needed to claim the LLFHL League Championship. League Championship The Provincial title followed "When you don't give up many on the heels of a Gold medal performance at the Championship goals, it's tough for anyone to beat weekend of the Lower Lakes you." added coach Merrick, "We've Female Hockey League. Oakville stressed two way hockey all year qualified for the final weekend and the girls executed flawlessly." by defeating Brampton 2 games In seven League and Provincial to 1 in preliminary round action. In the semi-final game Oakville Championship games, the Oakville once again faced Burlington. As is defensive core of Laura Crowdis, Stamper, Breeann their style, the Barracudas kept the Mackenzie game close with tight checking, Gallagher, Jessica Geddes, Chloe until midway through the 3rd when Morrison and Madison Field Oakville's Madison Field broke conceded only one goal. Goaltender through an open lane and drilled a Nikki Cece, solid the entire season, hard wrist shot over the shoulder earned an amazing 6 shut-outs of the Barracuda's goalie. It was all through the stretch. Oakville need to advance to the gold medal game. The powerful forward line up of Olivia Atkinson, Kaitlyn Norris, The goal medal game pitted Cassidy Miller, Kristin O'Neill, number one league leading Whitby Claire Merrick, Emily Schnarr, Wolves (19-3-2) against the number Jacinta (Jazz) Kennedy, Kaitlyn In round robin action the Hornets defeated Mississagua 4-0, tied London 1-1 and defeated Brampton 2-0. The semi final game match Oakville against archrival Burlington Barracudas which the Hornets also won by a 3-0 score. McAllister and Taylor McMahon combined to score 16 times on opponents, with contributions coming from every line on the team. In addition to the Provincial and League Titles, the Atom AA completed the hockey triple crown and captured the Women's International Silver Stick Championship in Aurora. That feat earns the Hornets team a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame. In addition the team garnered Gold medals in tournaments in London and Waterloo and Silver medals at the Ottawa Bell Canada Cup and Willowdale. The Hornets Atom AA team is coached by Lou Merrick with assistance coaches Chris Stamper, Gary McLellan, Neil Morrison. Special thanks to Trish O'Neil and Barb McMahon for their help as team trainers and to Grace Norris for all her assistance off ice as team manager. Well Done Hornets!