The Northern Lights U16 AA ringette team, with 10 girls from Quesnel, split their first two games at the U16 Ringette Canadian Championships in Cambridge, Ont.
The Northern Lights started the championship on the right foot with a 6-5 win over Nova Scotia Monday morning,
but had a bit of a rough time in the afternoon losing to Ontario 7-4.
The first game of the championship for the Northern Lights started as a shootout with the teams combining for nine goals.
The second half of the game saw both B.C. and Nova Scotia tighten up on defence with each team managing just one goal.
Nova Scotia tied the score 5-5 one minute into the second period on a goal by Reagan Wynn.
Undeterred, the Northern Lights kept plugging away and eventually got the winning goal off the stick of Nina Tajbakhsh just before the nine-minute mark.
Hannah Young had an outstanding game for the Northern Lights as she dished out helpers on four of six goals.
The story Monday afternoon, according to Northern Lights coach Melinda Moorhouse, was missed opportunities.
“We need to convert our chances into goals and we’ll be right in there.”
Chances indeed. B.C. outshot Ontario in the first half, but found themselves down 5-3 and in the end could not make up the difference.
Despite the loss, Northern Lights coach Melinda Moorhouse was pleased with the play of her team.
“They played well against both Nova Scotia and Ontario,” she said.
The Northern Lights faced Quebec and host Cambridge on Tuesday.
“They’re tough teams,’ Moorhouse said.
“But if we play like we can, we’ll be alright.”
To follow the Northern Lights at the Canadian championships visit www.crc2011.ca.