The St. Albert Slash packed their gear for the last time this season Thursday night after being swept by the Edmonton Thunder in the best-of-five north division final in the Alberta Major Midget Female Hockey League.
The Slash were shut out for the second time in the series, this time by a score of 7-0. They were outscored 16-3 in all three losses and in league play lost all four games to the Thunder, including two by shutouts, while outscored 13-3.
Head coach Terry Sydor said that part of the reason the Thunder are so strong is that they're the only team that hails from the Capital city, so their talent pool is significantly larger to draw from.
“They're a very good team but as long as Edmonton continues to put only one team in the league, these things will happen,” he said. “It's no reflection on the girls on our team or our effort. Sure we have a young, inexperienced and inconsistent team but we won't quit competing and battling. The girls tried hard and I'm proud of them. I'm proud to coach them. It was a tough challenge.”
The Slash still had the game well within reach after the first period, allowing only one goal. But three goals from three different Thunder players in the second deflated the St. Albert bench. The Thunder went on to add three more goals in the third.
“We played hard. We didn't give up. It was tough competition,” said centre Michelle Tassone. “We're a smaller team than them for sure.”
Along with netminder Tyler Lisitza and forward Taryn McCormick, Tassone is graduating from the midget ranks.
“This team's been my life for the past three years. It's tough but I'm glad I got to experience it. We're a really close-knit team that supports each other. We were with each other every day of the week,” said Tassone, whose older brother Matt plays for the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League. “I learned a lot about myself and as a hockey player. The coaches are great. They've taught me a lot that I can use in the future.”
Sydor had nothing but positives for his three departing players but knows that when next season rolls around he'll have an older, bigger, faster, stronger core of girls to mentor and hopefully push deeper into the playoffs.
“Tassone is a real warrior and gives everything she has, game in and game out. Her leadership and grit and determination will be missed,” he said. “McCormick is a talented young lady. It was a pleasure to get to know her and she'll be tough to replace.
“Lisitza is a great leader and phenomenal young person. Goaltending is such an important part of your team and to have one of them moving on, it's a big hole. Emily Mitchell has done a super job for us this year and I expect her to be back and even stronger next year.”
Captain Melissa Kueber was sad to see three of her close friends moving on.
“We're pretty much like a family. It's hard to say goodbye to the three,” said Kuber, who will remain with the team for one more year as the Slash prepare to host the 2011 Esso Cup at Servus Credit Union Place.
The Slash finished the regular season in third place in the north at 13-11-8 before sweeping Spruce Grove in two games in the quarter-finals and Lloydminster in three games in the semifinals.
The highlight of the season was the championship victory at the Mac’s tournament at Calgary. Jessica Kampjes, the tournament MVP, was also honoured as the league’s rookie of the year. She finished 11th in league scoring with 37 points in 32 games.
“Winning the Mac's was incredible,” Sydor said. “We have lots to build on. We had a great amount of success for such a young team.”
