Managing editor
Raiders captain Lindsay Williams calls her national championship hockey team “the best female team I’ve ever played on.”
14 Wing Greenwood put some impressive stats on the scoreboard this season on its way to the Canadian Forces Women’s Hockey National title: winning Atlantic Regionals, a contingent won the women’s division at the World Pond Hockey Championships in New Brunswick and going undefeated through the national tournament in Borden March 3 to 9. The women scored 37 times through the rounds, and only let three goals past them.
“We were really strong to begin with, and we picked up some good players,” Williams, a corporal at 14 Wing, said. “Everyone played amazing, and we played really well as a team. We all got along, we hung out and went to team dinners.
“It’s nice to win with our own team.”
Williams has been to nationals and won in the past, but as a pick up for the representative Atlantic Region team. This was also Captain Heather Smith’s fourth appearance at nationals – and her first win.
“We were definitely pleased with the way we played, and on and off the ice we all got along,” Smith said.
Stepping onto the ice in Royal Canadian Air Force Hockey jerseys,Greenwoodmade an impression from the start. Day one included two games, beating Petawawa 5-1 andOttawa4-0. Williams was named game MVP in theOttawagame after making some great defensive plays and scoring on a hard shot from the point.
Greenwoodthen metEsquimalt, taking a 7-1 victory, and secured a semi-final spot by beating the Prairie team 8-0. Second Lieutenant Kirsten Lindstol was game MVP, with four goals to her name through that match-up.
Greenwoodand the Prairie team met again in the semi, with goalie Master Corporal Karen Lindsay holding a 9-0 shut-out forGreenwood.
In the final againstOttawa,Greenwoodfought back against hard skating opposition which managed the first goal of the game. With focus,Greenwooddominated offensively, scoring four goals. Smith was game MVP.
At the closing ceremony, threeGreenwoodteam members made the allstar list: Lindstol, Leading Seaman Mallory Gavin and Private Heather Gillespie – all pick-ups from Halifax and Gagetown. Williams received the Sportsmanship Award.
The Raiders’ full roster included Master Corporal Karen Lindsay, Corporal Lindsay Williams, Second Lieutenant Serena Palmer, Sergeant Cindy Woodford, Captain Heather Smith, Captain Dawn Macauley, Sergeant Paula Hickey, Captain Mary Cameron-Kelly, Master Corporal Johanie Maheu, Private Virginie Roux, Captain Marie-Helene Marseille, Private Jennifer Saltzman, and Master Warrant Officer Darlene Donovan. Coaches were Chief Warrant Officer Bob Viel and Warrant Officer Kevin Hickey. Sergeant Erica Oliver, Second Lieutenant Kirsten Lindstol, Trooper Emilie Clairoux, Sapper Heather Gillespie and Leading Seaman Mallory Gavin were picked up by the Raiders from the Halifax and Gagetown teams.
“We’re always looking for girls,” Williams said, as military postings and work requirements make for constant change in team make-up.
Half theGreenwoodteam is now heading toPEIfor a fun tournament at the end of March, then it’s on to the ball diamond.
“Basically, our hockey team is our ball team,” Williams said.
