Gryphons capture gold

WESTVILLE?- The North Nova Girls hockey team took home the gold medal from the seventh annual Christmas tournament in Westville over the weekend. The girls earned their way to the gold medal match by virtue of their two win and one tie record in round robin play.
On Friday, the Gryphons faced Memorial High School from Sydney Mines. After a scoreless first period, Emily Dicks opened the second period with a slap shot from the point to break the scoreless tie. Assisting were Hayley Foote and Julia Henderson.
With a minute left in the game, Memorial pulled their goalie and Hayley Foote score with .03 of a second left to ice the game at 2-0. Foote was the MVP of the game.
In game two on Friday, NNEC met CEC of Truro. There was no scoring in the first two periods. CEC managed to find the net first, opening the scoring early in the third. NNEC battled back and Krista Dunn from Lyndsay Oakes and Meryl MacDougall tied the game four minutes later to end at 1-1. Oakes was the game MVP.
Saturday morning, the Gryphons faced Cole Harbour. Robyn Doyle scored unassisted early in the first to start the scoring. Cole Harbour replied but two minutes later Foote from Dunn took NNEC ahead. Oakes from Dicks scored a shorthanded goal to end the period leading 3-1.
There was no scoring in the second and third periods so the final score remained 3-1. Meghan Watters was named MVP of the game.
NNEC's record of two wins and a tie put them in first place in their division to advance to the crossover round on Saturday evening. They faced cross county rival Northumberland Nighthawks who placed second in their division. NRHS opened the scoring at the three-minute mark of the first period on a goal by Marli Johnston assisted by Ruthanna O'Brien and Kayleigh Nichol.
There was no other scoring in the first and second periods although each team sent several players to the penalty box and there were many power plays and five on three opportunities, which kept both netminders busy. In the third Oakes scored at the 10-minute mark from Justine Halliday on the power play to tie the game at one a piece. The score was still tied at the end of regulation so the game went to a 10-minute straight clock sudden death goal situation.
Although both teams had several scoring opportunities, NNEC prevailed when Oakes scored shorthanded and unassisted with one minute left in the OT period. Game MVP awards went to goalies Sarah Sutton for NNEC and Alyssa MacKinnon for NRHS.
NNEC was to meet the CP Allen Cheetahs for the gold medal game but because of weather conditions in the HRM area, the team could not make the trip so the Northumberland team came together to play the Gryphons in the championship game at the Westville Miners Sports Centre.
Oakes opened the scoring for the Gryphons at the 12-minute mark of the first on an unassisted goal. NRHS tied the game early in the second on a power play goal by O'Brien assisted by Nichol and Johnston. NNEC was quick to answer when MacDougall scored on a set up from Brandi McCuish at the six-minute mark. Oakes with an assist from MacDougall and McCuish ended the second period on a high note.
NNEC were in a tough position after losing centres Watters and Oakes after the second period. The Gryphon girls were undeterred and quickly got down to business when Dicks scored from the point on a Halliday assist. Foote rounded out the scoring at the 10-minute mark from Krista Dunn on a shorthanded goal.
The final score of the championship game was 5-1. MVPs for the game were Kara Kirkendall for NNEC and Janelle Langille for NRHS.
Although dissapointed with the loss, Northumberland coach Jim Sloan said he was pleased with how the tournament went overall. Games were well attended and the teams played well. Because CP Allen couldn't make the final game the Nighthawks won silver.