The League Winning Lumby U18 Female Stars headed into playoffs this past weekend facing Kelowna Friday night. Captain Jenna Maltman opened the scoring on a blistering point shot passed back from Izzy Huston and Defensive linemate Kiel Hayward. The game was 1-0 still after two when at 12:43 Huston Added her own from Maltman and Hayward to make it 2-0. The stars didn’t look back as Abby Gamache put her name on the sheet from Caydence Quibell, and Veronica Mailloux and a minute later veteran Star defenseman Faith Seehaver lined up a point shot past the goalie from Hayward and Parker Davidson to make it a 4-0 final. Jenna Davidson, Jillian Bevans annd Payton Lewis hustling linemate. Alexis Godard was between the pipes and make several key saves in support of her team. Saturday the Stars faced league second place Lillooet in what was expected to be a battle and it didn’t disappoint the home crowd. Hailee Hunt opened the scoring after she went through end to end with impressive skating and puck control to bury it unassisted at 9:31 of the first. Lillooet didn’t back down and tied it up with 9 seconds remaining in the first to make it 1-1 to the ice clean. Hunt once again put the stars back on top scoring with 5;50 remaining in the second on a beautiful pass from linemate Davidson to go up 2-1 where the battle continued all though the game with Netminder Veteran Tyra Cunningham making several clutch saves on a pressuring Lillooet team to keep the stars on top 2-1 final.
Going into the final day of round robin play the Stars had an early time change morning game against Kamloops at 7:30am and both teams were up for the challenge. The stars were the only goal of the first period at the very end 1:21 with Hunt leading the stars on a power play goal assisted by Davidson and Mailloux. Second period Parker Davidson added a second by sweet passing from Maltman and Hunt to set her up. Kamloops answered back to make it a 2-1 game . Hunt added her second of the game from Davidson and gritty forward Julia McLennan to once again take a 2 goal lead but Kamloops answered back to make it 3-2 before Seehaver blasted a point shot pass back from Davidson to make it a 4-2 final. Netminder Godard getting the win. The Stars going 3-0 in round robin had to wait to see the deciding game between Kelowna and Lillooet to see who they would face in the championship final which resulted in a rematch between Lillooet and Lumby. The Saturday afternoon close game made the match up an anticipated one.
The Stars had home town support in their corner and it ignited them. Hunt for the third game opened the scoring from linemate Davidson and Allisyn Lavailee. Reanne Muller buried a beauty second goal off a pass from linemate McLennan to make it 2-0 with Davidson and Hunt combined for a goal to make it 3-0 to end the first in support of Cunningham in net who was getting pressure. The second period was a scoreless back and forth battle. Then the third saw the stars erupt for 4 unanswered goals. Hunt from Davison and Lavaillee. Gamache scored a beauty when sent in from a Beauty pass from Butler. Then Muller got her second of the game from Kaitlynn Lavailee and the final goal from Seehaver whose point shot beat the netminder to make it a 7-0 final with Cunningham earning the well deserved shut out in her final home game as a Star . The Stars had an incredible weekend with all players contributing to its success like all season. The Stars would like to thank all their families and community for their support. Andrew Hutton for his constant support and advertising of their success and home games. To their sponsor Kineshanko Logging Ltd for supporting their year. To their coaches Jon Kineshanko, Carl McLennan and Payton Kineshanko for supporting on and off the ice and their dedication to making them all the best they can be. The Stars would also like to wish their veteran players CaptainJenna Maltman, Assistant Captains Tyra Cunningham , Julia McLennan and Kiel Hayward, Faith Seehaver, Reanne Muller , Hailee Hunt and Parker Davidson great success as their minor hockey careers after years of dedication and role modelling comes to a close and they are onto their next journey!! Go Stars!!
