Courtenay Whalers Women's Hockey

Have you ever looked up the word impressive? Most would probably equate it to something good and exciting. According to yourdictionary.com, impressive is defined as “having or tending to have a strong effect on the mind or emotions”. Something to remember!  Since the beginning of January, it can be said that the Whalers performance and results have been somewhat “impressive”. After a good look at the first half of the season, we needed to practise skating, we skated. We needed to work on our passing, we passed. We needed to improve our back checking, we skated our heart out back on defence. We needed to work on our breakout…we still need to work on our break out! But the point is that in all the games we have played in 2011, we can finally say after three years, that it is all coming together. It is not always perfect, but there are more successful attempts then failed ones. Take the last game for example against the well respected Port Alberni Panthers team. Since the “creation” of the Whalers three years ago, Port Alberni have always been the team to beat. They have experience, speed and skills. We have always worked hard against them but the results are usually in their favour. But not in our last game. Nay nay! Having worked hard on many of our weaknesses and having been able to play the same line up for most of the season, we have been able to develop cohesion and chemistry. Last Sunday we tied Port Alberni 4-4 in what was a very well played game.

Port Alberni opened the score in the first period with a silly shot on the ground, going slower than a turtle about to take a nap. We blamed it on our goalie Katrin Bizier being screened by a bunch of players in front of her net. Shortly after, Whalers Allison Abraham (Canadian Western Bank) pulled out her big gun and tied it up with another shot from the point, something she seems to be making a habit of doing lately. Port Alberni responded three minutes later on another slow motion shot sneaking in between Bizier’s legs. We really got to get her some new pads. If anyone is looking to donate some more modern goalie equipment, please contact the Whalers through their very popular blog below. Ten seconds later, came the third Alberni goal, and you guessed it, that stupid turtle was back. Maybe this time it was the stick?  With less than 4 minutes in the first period, Kelly Roloff (InsuranCentres) was able to reduce the point difference. Roloff, Tera Kasubuchi (Whistle Stop Pub) and no other than Abraham played cat and mouse with the Alberni defense and convincingly tucked one behind the home team goalie to make it 3-2 before the buzzer.

Second period saw some very splendid play from the Whalers. Jain Banham, Lee McGorge and Jody Fink (Whale’s Tale Toys) were commended by Captain Buchi for they relentless back checking while Sky Niskasari and Shirlee Carver displayed their usual calm and composed distribution of the puck to the forwards. Not sure what Josée Bureau was doing in this game, looking like a snowman every time she came on the bench but oh well, she tried!!! No goals were allotted in the second period as both goalies denied anything going their way and Bizier found a way to tighten up the pads.

The Whalers picked up the pace in the third period with a goal from Emily Murray on an assist from Sky Zimmerman (Brian McLean) in the 8th minute. Zimmerman had a few more chances in front of the net but was unable to complete the transactions. Many squeaky noises were heard from her direction. there was even a rumor that a goal actually went in but was denied by the referee who showed up a few seconds too late! Chanace VanderHeide, Bureau and Fink showcased some pretty dandy tic tac toe passing but no points were recorded from their line. More production will be expected from this trio otherwise management may decide to move them to the fourth line.

It wasn’t until the 15th minute that Kasubuchi was able to pierce through the Alberni’s defence on a pass from Abraham to give the lead to the Whalers for the first time in the game. The lead would not remain for very long as the Panthers didn’t even let the Whalers finish their celebration with a quick goal 9 seconds later.This one right off the face off, no one saw it go through.  The score of 4-4 was to prevail.

Who’s hot:

Humble Allison Abraham has been recording multiple point games in the last 4 games. Her play in the corners and in from of the net has been tireless. Her offensive contribution has elicited some unusual emotions in her after the game. Her performance has been what we can define as most IMPRESSIVE!

Whalers thank their sponsor Ecofish Research Ltd.