Titans collect titles

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This article was published 18/03/2011 (5636 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s been a mammoth five years for two Winnipeg Titans.

Defencemen Taylor Neil and Jessica Lefebvre of the female midget AA hockey team have won five straight city championship titles — two with the organization’s bantam team (13-14 years) and the pair won their third of three midget title (15-17) on Monday. The fifth title capped the minor hockey careers of the two players.

“It means a lot to both of us, to win five championships and be able to have that for life, it’s pretty special,” Neil, 17, said. “We were both crying when we both won… five years in a row. I wish we could keep going but our time is up with the Titans. Now I just hope the rest of the Titans can keep going.”

The Titans beat the Winnipeg Rangers 4-1 on Monday in the third game for a 3-0 sweep of the best-of-five final series.

“I was sitting there in the dressing room and I just said to myself, ‘Did I just win this again? What is going on?’ It was just surreal but it is a feeling that I will never forget,” Lefebvre, 18, said. “Lots of people win just one championship but we just kept on rolling. I’ve just had so many great teammates, so much luck, and so much fun.”

Though Lefebvre lives in St. James and Neil in the North Winnipeg area, the way Hockey Winnipeg divides the city has put the two girls together on teams and they’ve been friends for the past eight years.

“Taylor and I, we just never got cut. We became best friends and just got closer,” Lefebvre said.

“I look at my guy friends that play hockey and they don’t have as many rings as we do. It’s a pride thing for us,” said Neil. “We’ve moved up with a lot of the same girls so it’s just second nature to be able to play together.”

Both said they are grateful to the coaching they received from former Titans coach Mike Houston and Todd Ritchot, their midget coach this season.

“It is unique what they’ve done, they’ve been part of very competitive teams and it’s allowed them to have some great success,” Ritchot said. “They’re both defencemen and they both played a big role in our championship this year. Those two guys, they see everything, power play, PK, regular shifts, everything.”

Neil, who plays centre for and captains the West Kildonan Wolverines high school girls team, has a chance next Monday to add another title, as the Wolverines are one win away from the Winnipeg Women’s High School Hockey League championship crown in the Winnipeg Free Press B division.

The provincial midget AA title is up for grabs beginning today at the MTS Iceplex when the Titans will be one of 11 teams — five city and six regional — competing in a three-day tournament. The winner will play off with the Saskatchewan provincial champion for the right to represent the area in the 2011 Esso Cup midget female national championship.

The Pembina Valley Hawks and Eastman Selects are considered the teams to beat in the tournament, which has its final set for Sunday at 2:45 p.m.

ashley.prest@freepress.mb.ca

Female Midget AA Provincial Championship

At MTS Iceplex

Playoff round

 

Saturday, March 19

5:30 p.m. quarter-final: 3 vs. 6

7:15 p.m. quarter-final 4 vs. 5

 

Sunday March 20

8:45 a.m. semifinal: 2 vs. 3/6 winner

10:30 a.m. semifinal 1 vs. 4/5 winner

2:30 p.m. bronze medal game

2:45 p.m. gold medal game