Almost a Full Circle

 

In December, the U-18 EDZA West Reds season was at risk. All games were put on hold, and no teams had an idea what the remainder of the season had in store for them. Without knowing if the season would resume, the Reds kept their foot on the gas, practicing two nights a week and having weekly mandatory fitness – staying ready for any sudden return to play.

This season has been unlike any other for the Reds. Short and long periods of pause, players quitting and players coming up, plus more. With those issues they experienced throughout the year, playing on the last day of the season is something they knew wasn’t guaranteed and they wanted to do it so bad.

After a month and a half of eagerly waiting the cancellation was lifted, and games were soon going to be played. The league scheduled each team to have two exhibition games before playoffs started. Once playoffs begun, they were conducted in two, best of three semi-final series with the winners playing each other for the championship. The finals were also a three-game series. The Reds won their first series against the Saint John in two games, Moncton also won theirs over the Northern team.

This past weekend, the Reds and the Moncton Rockets took the ice for the AAA girls hockey provincial finals. The Reds were looking to win their first provincial title in team history but knew it wouldn’t be easy against the number one seeded team.

 

Due to the restricted number of fans allowed per player, pictures could only be taken for the home game of the series, in Nackawic, no away games. Heading into that home game, the Reds had already won game one up in Bouctouche in overtime and wanted to finish things off in their home barn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The game was a hard-fought battle with the score tied 2-2 after two periods. Being an elimination game for Moncton, they came out in the last period with a lot more jump than the Reds. They buried a five on three shorthanded goal to take the lead and continued to push from there. They managed to secure the win to force a game three for all the marbles, but the Reds didn’t make it easy for them, never giving up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Game three back in Moncton was a low scoring but absolute thriller of a game, every shift both teams were giving it 110 per cent. After two intense periods the game was still tied at zero. As the Reds came on the ice for the third all of the Moms were down at the glass cheering, ringing their horns and cowbells, and showing their girls their support and that it was time to turn it up a notch. The pace was way faster than the previous two periods, and still tied going into the second half of the third. Unfortunately, Moncton scored on a scramble in front of the net and led 1-0. From that point on, the Reds were all offense, they kept the puck for the rest of the game, gaining chances and coming so close. As the final seconds ran out, they had shot after shot but couldn’t get the puck past the goalie, falling one goal short from a provincial title.

 

It always the worst feeling being the so called ‘first loser’ and not having the gold medal or a banner. At the start of this season, the Reds weren’t expected to even make it past the first round of playoffs let alone lose in the very last possible game, by one goal. Despite all the teams’ issues and covid setbacks, the Reds showed resilience throughout the season and especially in the playoffs when it mattered most. From possibly not playing at all in December to provincial silver medalists, that’s almost a full circle.