Prior to winter break, the Northwood girls hockey team traveled to Stanstead, Quebec to compete in the annual NAPHA championship tournament and fell just short of winning the title.
Ella Fessette ’21 in action earlier this season at the Olympic Center (Photo: Mr. Michael Aldridge).
The Huskies ended up first in their division to earn a bye at the start of the weekend. Despite losing in the championship game, the Huskies never gave up and competed hard til the end, going 2-1 on the weekend.
The first game was against Rice and play went back and forth between the two teams. However, Northwood secured the lead as Ella Fesette (Forward, 2021) scored making the score 1-0. Rice wasn’t going to give up and they responded with a goal just a minute later to tie the game at one. In the second, Rice scored again, and Hadley Swedlund (Forward, 2020) and Kate Hagness (Forward/Defense, 2021) scored taking the Husky lead to 3-2. The game ended with a 3-2 Husky win and Emilie Venne (Goaltender 2020) had an outstanding game in net.
Later that night the Huskies faced off against Nichols. The game was played with fierce tenacity with no goals scored in regulation. The game ended up going to a shootout and Fesette scored the game-winning goal for the Huskies, making the final score 1-0 to the Huskies a spot in the championship game.
Making it to the championship game was a goal for the Huskies, and getting in the title game was a proud moment not only for the team but also for the coaching staff. Head coach Gino Riffle said, “the development that these young women have gone through since the beginning of the season is mind-blowing. We never would have thought that we would be here in the championship game today.” Although the scoreboard didn’t end up in favor of the Huskies, the hard work and compete level that the team showed in the game was amazing. Marina Alvarez (Defense, 2021) scored the lone Husky goal and the score ended 5-1 with Stanstead winning the NAPHA championship.
The Huskies end the season with a record of 21-24-4.
