The Richmond Ravens’ complete dominance at B.C. Hockey’s Provincial Girls Bantam Championships proved to be their greatest foe in the end.
The juggernaut squad was looking to conclude a terrific season in grand style last week at the Richmond Ice Centre. They entered the seven-team tournament as the decisive favourite — having gone 31-1-1 in Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey Association regular season and playoff action.
The Ravens lived up to the status by rolling to six straight victories in round-robin play, outscoring their opponents by a resounding 60-3 margin. Their “toughest” tests of the week were a pair of 5-0 results against Kelowna and South Island. That was until they ran into their longtime rival again in Thursday’s championship game.
The Tri-City Predators were ambushed 9-1 by Richmond back on the opening day of the tournament. Yet, the 2015 Pee Wee provincial champions were the lone PCAHA team to taste success against the Ravens this season. They managed a 5-2 victory back on Jan. 11, then played them to a 2-2 in the playoffs.
Sure enough, it was a much different Predator team that showed up for the final.
Tri-Cities broke a scoreless deadlock in the second period and just missed on at least three other chances to extend their lead. They made it a two-goal game early in the third, then held off a furious Ravens charge for a well-deserved 2-1 victory — surprising many in the capacity crowd at the RIC’s forum rink.
It was a type of game Richmond simply hadn’t experienced for sometime.
“Our girls were really nervous at the start and you could see that,” said Ravens head coach Tony Lindsay. “The longer we went without scoring, the more we seem to tighten up. “Throughout the whole provincials, we blitzed every team from the beginning but that’s the way (this tournament is). It’s that one game winner take all.
“Give Tri-Cities credit. They played a real strong game and were worthy champions. They deserved it.”
The Ravens finally broke through midway through the third period, setting the stage for a terrific finish. They came inches away from tying it when the best player on the ice — first-year standout Katie Chan — rang a shot off the post with just over five minutes remaining.
“We haven’t had a game like that all year where we have gone into the third period and hadn’t scored a goal,” continued Lindsay. “I’m really proud of the fact our girls were down 2-0 and easily could have quit at that point but didn’t. We definitely had some chances to tie the game.
“We were not pushed at any point in the provincials and sometimes you lose your edge a bit. The three other times I have won provincials (with other teams) we had always had some kind of setback in round-robin play . This time there was no adversity and it was the first close game we had.
“(As far as that earlier 9-1 game) Tri-Cities have been up and down all year. But they have beaten us before and showed tonight they were capable of doing it again.”
The two teams lingered on the ice well after the medal presentations — knowing this was the end of a terrific rivalry. The players will be going in so many directions next season, including the B.C. Midget AAA league and academy programs.
Some are even expected to skip their second-year of Bantam eligibility with Chan topping the list. It was the speedster’s first season of girls hockey after playing for the top boys rep team in her age group with Seafair Minor Hockey.
“She is fantastic. Probably, from an offensive standout, the most natural goal scorer we have had on the female side. No question her ability is as good as I have seen at the female level,” added Linsday who has coached girls and boys teams in Richmond for many years.
“There are lots of options for her and she needs to find a level where she will be challenged and continue to get better.”
