Seaway girls hockey win Valour ‘B’

PETAWAWA – The Seaway District High School girls hockey team competed in the annual Valour Secondary School invitational hockey tournament in Petawawa December 21st. This is the second year that the Spartans have competed in the tournament.nnThe Spartans were seeded against host Valour for the first game of the day, the outcome of which would decide which division the team would continue in the remainder of the tournament.nEvenly matched, the two teams remained scoreless until the final minute of the game. With 50.1 seconds left in the third period, Hali deRuiter scored on Seaway keeper Michaela Mustard, Valour clinches the win 1-0. Valour moved on to the ‘A’ division while the Spartans move on to the ‘B’ division of the tournament.nnWith the Spartans seeded into the ‘B’ division, they next faced École Secondaire Publique Northern from Sturgeon Falls.nnSarah Backes put the Spartans on the scoreboard 13:20 into the first period with an assist from Anna Henderson, 1-0 Seaway.nnLate in the second period, Ashley Hanna put the Spartans up 2-0, Henderson had her second assist of the game. With 18 seconds left on the clock, Hanna found the back of the net off a pass from Trinity Hanes. Seaway led 3-0 after two periods.nnFive minutes into the third period, Hanna completed her natural hat-trick with a pass by Sierra Swindells, Seaway led 4-0.nnBraves foward Alex Murmild spoiled the shutout, scoring unassisted with 14:20 left in the third. Murmild added one more with 4:20 left on the clock for the Braves. Final score, Seaway Spartans 4, Northern Braves 2.nnWith the win, the Seaway girls hockey team moved on to the ‘B’ final against the St. Joseph’s Jaguars from Renfrew.nnBoth teams remained scoreless through most of the first period. With 1:20 left in the first, Sarah Backes sent a pass to Anna Henderson who found the back of the Jaguars’ net, 1-0 Seaway.nAshley Hanna, assisted by Sierra Swindells, sent the puck past the Jaguars’ netminder late in the second putting the Spartans up 2-0.nnSeaway broke open the scoring in the third period, with Sierra Swindells scoring a goal and Martina Lewis scoring two. Final score Seaway Spartans 5, St. Joseph’s Jaguars 0, Seaway wins the ‘B’ championship for the tournament. Goalie Michaela Mustard had the shutout in net for Seaway.nnThe Seaway Spartans girls hockey team resumes play in January in the SDG county high school league.