Kathryn Kennedy (r), goaltender Madi Brinklow and Captain Hannah Wilson (l) battle in front of their own net as Germany scores the game winner in the B-Division championships Sunday at the Yardmen arena (photo: Joe Belanger/activeimages.ca)
Written by Martin Durkin
Happy Mother’s day Canada, your daughters are fighting for gold in the B division of the Under 19 Women’s World Floorball Championships 2016.
Should Canada manage to beat Germany one more time, this will move them into the A division for the next world tournament and they will not only be floorball champions, they will be the first North American team to ever do so, and, it will be done not only on home soil; but in Belleville Ontario Canada.
No matter the outcome of this noon hour match up, Canada and Belleville can be very proud of themselves with this tournament. Not only as players, but as organizers and as fans. At Saturday night’s win over the USA, Belleville fans helped to break the former Under 19 Women’s world record for attendance of 11,000 plus, setting a new world record.
Before Hungary’s 11th place match up against the United States, Hungarian coach Zsuzsanna Varsanyi was hesitant about Canada’s ability to win the game since Germany has a formal league to draw players from.
“I think Germany is better at some things. There’s more history there,” said Varsanyi.
Canada’s head coach however, is obviously proud of his team. “We keep saying to everybody that we are the only team in this tournament that plays four lines and that’s a testament to our program,” said Crawford.
Ready for Germany to want revenge after a devastating loss on Friday against Canada, Crawford says this game will be a true test. “They’re going to play two lines and we’re going to match as much as we can, and hopefully the crowd will push us through, and we’ll be coming home with our goal which is to win this tournament,” said Crawford.
Canadian star forward Alexa Hoskin is psyched for today’s game.
“I expect it to be really intense and fun,” said Hoskin. “They are one of our rivals so it’s going to be really exciting and it’s going to be good.
Canada opened the first period with two goals in the first five minutes of play, hoping to set the tone for the game and engage the fans who were riled up and ready to see a championship won on home soil.
After 15 minutes of play, Germany got on the board with a sweeping goal from the point, to bring the game within one. With Germany’s offence coming on strong and beginning to over take Canada’s defense, the clock was on team Crawford’s side, and the period ended 2-1 for Canada.
The second period opened up with a goal by Germany at 2:15 as Randi Kleerbaum was left open at the top left hand side, and easily put it in the top corner past Canadian goaltender Madison Brinklow. At 4:11, Germany would take the lead as Canada’s defense once again left a hole open in the goalkeeper box.
At 6:25 in the second, kids and their mom’s started cheering, ‘Come On Canada, Let’s Go’, hoping it would energize the team. Rachael Smith would come through for Canada on a power play goal, tying the game at three. Germany would bounce back two minutes later however, going ahead 4-3, and once ahead, Canada found themselves fighting back. At 18:36 Germany would score once more, making it a two goal lead, and Canada needing to score three. At the end of the second period, it was 5-3 Germany.
During the second period break Canadian team manager Simon Roethlisberger spoke on what it would take for Canada to get themselves back in this game.
We are going to have to step it up,” said Roethlisberger. “All five players have to work as a unit. We have to get more traffic in front of the German net. Their goaltender doesn’t like having so much distraction.”
Although team Canada was going into the third period needing to score three goals, Roethlisberger still believed the team could pull off the win. “They can do it, they can do it….they just have to do it now,” said Roethlisberger.
With players and fans alike needing a chance to breathe and relax, the speakers in the Yardmen began to pipe out the soothing Canadian sounds of loons and other wildlife, a famous intro before the music of Tragically Hip’s ‘Wheat Kings’ began to play. As the song continued almost anthem like, the Canadian team marched out onto the floor and the crowd erupted their Sunday faith, clapping and chanting.
As the third period rolled through, Canada played with a desperation that showed. Too many passes which didn’t connect began to take their toll as Germany settled in and played a smarter defensive game. At 8:27 a penalty was called against both teams and for two minutes, four on four hockey opened up the floor for both teams. Neither team would score.
Finally at 16:23, The Yardmen once again woke up and broke out cheering as Kieva Earle scored for team Canada, bringing the game back within one. The goal seemed to wake the entire team up, and 22 seconds later team Canada tied the game with a goal by Kaitlyn Fung. Just like Friday night, The Yardmen arena was bouncing. The bouncing would end at 19:30 as team Germany stormed the net, putting their sixth goal in and ending the game at 6-5.
Although not the outcome team Canada or Belleville was hoping for, Belleville fans rallied behind team Canada, standing and clapping their appreciation. Canada may have lost, but at the same time, they had made their mark on home soil and the city of Belleville Ontario was made proud by their effort.
As the team exited the floor, fans yelled out, “We Love You Canada!”
