The day before the Kitchener Fallfest tournament the Midget B Golden Hawks learned they were without Lauren, their one and only goalie, due to concussion like symptoms. This was a huge blow as Lauren is instrumental to the Hawks successful game.
Numerous options were exhausted until 830 pm Thursday night the Golden Hawks had a goalie thanks to Tournament organizer Pat Zister. In an exceptional display of sportsmanship the Kitchener Lady Rangers Midget B (in the tournament) coach Mark STEFFLER agreed to provide the Hawks one of their two goalies. According to OWHA and tournament rules this would prohibit their goalie from returning to their team and put them at risk.
One of the goalie’s came forward and volunteered. MIchelle S. Michelle was the first player to the arena from game one. She was smiling, excited, positive and looking forward to the experience. In her words “I couldn’t let you play without a goalie”.
As we watched Michelle we realized we had seen her before. She faced the Golden Hawks in the same tournament the previous year. We remembered a Lady Ranger goaltender with quick legs and an exceptional glove that had stoned our forwards on many occasions. Michelle is an athletic goalie that challenges the shooter. She moves well in the net and is difficult to beat.
Michelle played great for the Golden Hawks and earned MVP honours in the first two games. She was instrumental to the success the team did experience over the weekend. We learned she had 6 years hockey experience and her exceptional glove hand was attributed to 9 years of fastball. After the disappointment of losing Lauren for the tournament we couldn't of been more pleased with the addition of Michelle. Michelle saved the girls tournament and raised the spirits of all the Golden Hawks including Lauren that felt awful for not being able to play.
Michelle was a cheerleader for both her own team and her adopted Golden Hawks. She was enthusiastic and showed leadership in talking with our defencemen and encouraging all the girls to work hard. Secretly I think Michelle wanted to have the fun experience of meeting her own team in the finals. There is no doubt in our mind she would of given the Golden Hawks the same effort she had showed. In the Hawks second game a few of her Kitchener teammates and Coach Mark came to cheer Michelle on.
It took a special player/person to agree to step away from her own team in an act of sportsmanship. It is even tougher as a teenager to leave your peers and step into an unknown situation which would be uncomfortable for most people.
Michelle didn’t know any of the girls and jumped in with both feet to embrace the opportunity. On and off the ice Michelle fit in immediately with the girls and by the end of the tournament had made 14 new friends and even more supporters. She spent a lot of time socializing with the girls. In particular she spent time with Lauren who despite not feeling well had made the trip to the tournament to support her team. Michelle attended team luncheons and hung out with the girls for the entire day Saturday shopping and swimming in the hotel. We are proud of our Midget B Hawks that made it easy for Michelle to acclimatize to our team.
Even after the Hawks were eliminated Michelle and her father came back to our hotel during a snow storm to socialize with the team.
Michelle was unable to play for her team after the Golden Hawks were eliminated. Michelle’s Kitchener Lady Ranger team went on to win the semi finals in a shootout over Norfolk. The HAWKS may not of been able to help Michelle win any hardware but her own team collected her the GOLD when they defeated Oakville in a shootout in the finals.
Michelle was no doubt heart broken that she couldn’t be on the bench with her own team in the final game. She was the ultimate supporter and seen wearing her Kitchener team jersey, inching closer to the team bench with every passing moment until she was in a position where she could high five players coming off the ice.
Michelle did not leave empty handed. Hawks and their sponsor looked after Michelle over the weekend with meals and rides. She was provided with a few tokens of appreciation which included a small cosmetic kit, a gift certificate and a signed jersey by all the girls. It wasn’t the GOLD but hopefully the weekend experience provided her with lasting memories and new friendships.
Georgina Midget B coaching staff, players and parents would like to thank Kitchener Rangers organization for their help, Kitchener Lady Rangers Midget B for the incredible act of sportsmanship and Michelle for her bravery and unselfish sacrifice to ensure our team could remain competitive. Michelle you are a true competitor, leader and exceptional young lady.
Thank You!.