Time might well have healed the heartbreak of a seven player shootout loss to the Hearst Ice Cats in the final of the Snowflake Challenge, back in December, for the Sudbury Atom H/L Stingers, but a recent championship banner in southern Ontario healed it even better.
The Stingers captured top spot at the Brampton Cougars 23rd Annual Friendship Festival last month, pushed to close victories in a couple of contests but rising to the occasion when they needed to most.
Competing in a five-team bracket, the Sudbury girls stopped the Toronto Leaside Wildcats 5-2 in their opener, led by a three-goal performance from Danyka Vaillancourt and solo markers from both Harper Morin and Breeanna Sullivan.
A much more familiar foe awaited them in game two as the Stingers edged the Sudbury Atom H/L Tigers 2-1 on goals from Danyka Vaillancourt and Charmaine Pitts, remaining in the north for another tough win, trimming the Sault (SFHA) Atom Devils 3-2.
Sullivan and Vaillancourt were joined on the scoresheet by Ava Herbert, as the local youngsters sought to close out round robin play in style. They did just that, blanking Toronto Leaside - Langton 5-0 as goaltenderKaryssa Vaillancourt maintained her weekend of impressive play, recording the shutout.
With the Sault Devils securing second place by virtue of a close 2-1 victory over the Sudbury Tigers in their final preliminary round games, it would be the Saultites that would provide the opposition to the Stingers, with gold medals on the line.
This time around, the Stingers were in full flight, receiving a hat trick from Danyka Vaillancourt and singletons from Scarlett Duhaime and Alexie Lamothe, the latter netting her first ever goal to seal the win.
"I'm extremely proud of this team," said Sudbury head coach Jason Sullivan. "What a tenacious group of girls we have. Every player made it on to the scoresheet at least once, which is a testament to their team-first attitude and unselfishness."
Rounding out the 2018-2019 Sudbury Atom H/L Stingers roster are Chloe Ball, Claire Kellestine, Julia Lowe, Eva Maurice, Tessa Pilotte, Jade Toner, assistant coaches Luc Lamothe, Dan Lowe, Mike Pilotte, trainer Amber Katarincic and team manager Mélanie Vaillancourt.
