The players of the Durham West Lightning wanted so much to be among the first teams competing in the new women’s category of the Tournoi pee-wee de Québec that one of them wrote a letter, in French moreover, to the organizers.
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The effort paid off. A few months later, they wrote a page of history by becoming the first team to engrave their name on the new trophy, Sunday at the Videotron Center. The Ontario team triumphed over the Atlantics Girls Select, a team from Pennsylvania, by a score of 3 to 1.
With the arrival of the Ukrainian team, defeated on Friday in class AA, and that of Carey Price (see opposite), the birth of this women’s category bringing together 12 teams from Canada, the United States and Europe was one of the main attractions of this 63rd edition of the Tournament.
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Fast and talented
Involved in women’s hockey for several decades, Lightning coach Bob Hunt was still wiping away tears following this victory, which he described as “historic”.
He himself had participated in the Pee-Wee Tournament in 1972. He had not won at the time, losing in the semi-finals. The fate is averted, and in a good way for someone who has been involved in women’s hockey for five decades.
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“I absolutely believe that this category, with teams from Canada, the United States and Europe, will help women’s hockey grow,” said Hunt, who leads the Lightning along with his daughter Erin, a former player. university.
“Women’s hockey is special,” he said proudly. The girls are fast, talented. They are tough too. They have nothing to envy to the boys. »
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Like his brother
The author of the letter, Chloe Sandiford, had a split smile on her lips as she left the locker room of the champions, where the players celebrated their triumph for long minutes.
And it wasn’t just because she had scored the second goal of the game, the one that would eventually make the difference in this final.
“I said in particular that my brother had been able to participate in this tournament last year and that it would be really special for us to be able to be there as well,” explained Sandiford.
It is now more than special. It’s historic, also conceded the young player.
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The Ouatouais wins
The Intrépide de l’Outaouais will have been the only Quebec team to take the top honors of the tournament. The team was crowned champion of the AA elite category, winning 5 to 1 at the expense of the Collège Français de Longueuil.
A feat of arms that made coach Éric Dagenais proud, as well as his protégés Xavier Lesage and Loïc Savoie, who would frame their medal… as well as their famous pin.
“These are memories they will cherish all their lives,” said the coach. In another 20 years, they will retain a special bond with their teammates. »
