Tenacious squad ready to work hard

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This article was published 27/10/2017 (3105 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After four Winnipeg Women’s High School Hockey League games so far this season, Miles Macdonell Buckeyes are 1-3 in the league’s CTV Division (A).

For the Buckeyes, who competed in the Winnipeg Free Press (B) division last season, the pace of the new division has been a bit of an adjustment, but a welcome one.

“The competition here is much better than last year,” said assistant captain Carley Kolotylo, a Grade 12 left-winger in her third season with the Buckeyes. “I like playing teams where you have to pick up your feet a bit more. This division, everyone’s at that high level.”

This year, the Buckeyes had nearly 30 girls try out for 15 roster spots, far more than in previous seasons.

“We were able to make some choices,” said assistant coach Janelle Yarjau, a new teacher at the school and former high school hockey player.

While the season is still in early days, the Buckeyes are a hard-working, tenacious team.

“They don’t give up very easily,” Yarjau said. “They keep fighting.”

Down 2-0 midway through the second period on Oct. 25 against Dakota, the Buckeyes fought back to tie the game at three apiece with a goal from Emily Thevenot with 32 seconds left in the frame. However, in the third period, the Lancers added three more goals, while Miles Mac was only able to add one more. Dakota won the game 6-4.

“Right now our biggest problem is power plays and penalty kill,” Yarjau said. “We’ve only had a couple practices. You can’t get everything right away.”

“I think our weakness so far has been getting used to where you are on the ice,” said team captain Meghan McDonald, a Grade 12 centre in her third year with the team. “Breaking out, we’re working on that in practice, we just need to get that down in a game situation.”

“We’re good in our end but we’re struggling to break out,” added Yarjau. “Once we do, we have good control. We’ve been able to score goals.”

The Buckeyes lone W so far this season came at the expense of neighbourhood rivals the River East Kodiaks. Miles Mac beat River East 6-2 on Oct. 18, the schools’ annual breast cancer awareness game.

“They’re a good team,” McDonald said. “But that one we came out on top.”

As veterans, McDonald and Kolotylo — who’ve each posted four points so far — said they’ve been impressed so far with the team’s younger players.

“They’re catching on well, and working just as hard as everyone to catch up,” McDonald said. “We’re a pretty solid, fast moving team.”

The Buckeyes face off against the Oak Park Raiders at Gateway Rec Centre (1717 Gateway Rd.) on Nov. 1 for a chance to improve their record. Puck drops at 4 p.m.

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