L'Horizon proved at the 2008 girls' NOSSA hockey championship they're the little team that could.
With a student population of 400 kids, L'Horizon is considered an A school.
This didn't stop them from laying out the top AAA schools at the recent NOSSA championship held in Greater Sudbury at the Tom Davies Arena.
The Aigles went 4-0 at the tournament to capture the AAA
title.
L'Horizon bested St. Joseph-Scollard Hall from North Bay in the championship final 5-2. Star forward Micheline Frappier accounted for four of the five goals and was named the AAA tournament MVP after producing 13 goals in four games. The other goal for L'Horizon was netted by Renee Delarosbil.
"It's a really big step for us," Frappier said. "Last year, we played in Division II, and went to Division I this season. It was a big risk for us...going up against bigger schools but everyone stepped up and we got the job done. Every girl on this team should feel proud."
The NOSSA win stamped the Aigles ticket to the AAA/AAAA championship set for March 31 to April 2 in Pembroke and Petawawa.
"Oh my God," Frappier said about going to OFSAA. "It's huge for the girls to go to an event like this. This win at NOSSA has raised our confidence. We will be ready to have a strong performance."
The AAA banner, which the L'Horizon players clutched tightly after receiving it, represents the first NOSSA AAA banner the girl's hockey team has ever won. It left their head coach in a state of shock.
"I'm overwhelmed," Paul Renuad said. "It means
everything. For these girls to do this, it's unheard of and
it's big for our team and the entire school.
We finished second in Division I play this season and that was
an excellent feat in its own right. To win the AAA NOSSA
Championship is just the icing on the cake. It was
special."
In the A/AA Championship, the College Notre-Dame Alouettes continued their NOSSA dominance by thumping Lively 4-0 in the final to win their fifth consecutive NOSSA banner. Notre-Dame won the A/AA banner in 2005-06 and 2006-07, and the AAA banner in 2003-04 and 2004-05.
Winning the NOSSA crown never gets tiring or boring.
"It's great to be NOSSA Champions again...it's always a
good feeling," head coach J.C. Davis said. "The girls did a
great job in the tournament. Everyone chipped in...everyone did
something to help us win."
Notre-Dame romped through the regular season by going 10-1-1 and won the Division I title in the playoffs. They received a stiff challenge from an upstart Lively squad, who went 4-7-1 in the regular season. The score was 0-0 after the first period before the strong depth of Notre-Dame took control and won. Forward Valerie Valiquette lead the charge with two goals in the final match, with singles to Karly Dudar and Chanelle Emond. Vanessa Jacques picked up the shut out. Dudar was named the A/AA MVP after recording six goals in the tournament.
"The girls earned this victory," Davis said. "Lively played great and gave us a tremendous game...it was a challenge."
The players couldn't hide their excitement over
celebrating a fifth NOSSA crown.
"It means a lot to us," forward Jacklyn Upchan said. "It's
a great feeling to have."
The Alouettes are beaming with pride over the fact they have
a tight grip on the NOSSA landscape and show no signs of
letting go, let alone lessen their vice-like grasp.
"By winning NOSSA again, it shows we're committed to our
team and we all worked hard to get it," goalie Vanessa Jacques
said. "It's always good to win."
Notre-Dame now moves onto the A/AA OFSAA Championship, which takes place in Pembroke and Petawawa from march 31 to April 2.
In the previous four OFSAA events, the best showing the Alouettes have enjoyed was a silver medal in 2006.
With an abundance of talented scorers and an air-tight defence lead by All-Star goalie Jacques, expectations are sky high once again.
"I think we can some real damage," Davis said. "I believe we can win a medal. The team is passing the puck well, we're getting great goaltending and we have timely scoring. It's all fitting into place for us at the right time. We could strike gold this year...it's what we're all looking for this time around. I'd be happy with another silver, but gold is better. We have high expectations...this could be their year to win it all. A lot of the girls have OFSAA experience so they know what it takes and are ready to do it. We want to come back with something special for the school and Sudbury."
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