The North Star Wolves girls hockey team have one loss and one tie to start the 2024-25 WECSSAA season.
The Wolves welcomed the talented Sandwich Sabres to the Libro Centre last Thursday afternoon. They came out on the short end of a 3-1 decision but were credited by the coaches for playing strong, having good scoring opportunities and having amazing puck control.
The Sabres went up 3-0 in the second period but June Buchner got the Wolves on the scoreboard before the period was finished.
North Star tied Belle River 1-1 Monday afternoon with Skylar Dion the lone goal scorer. Coach Dan Pettypiece said they led 1-0 much of the way but Belle River tied it late.
“Our kids came to play,” he said. Tyler Lamarche believed the Wolves played well.
“We’re starting to come together as a team,” she said, noting the passing and shooting are coming along. “I think we’re going to have a good season if we do those things.”
Many players returned from last year with about five or six newcomers. Ireland Carter added she also thinks they are progressing well.
“We’re playing really well for coming together so quickly,” she said.
Both Carter and Lamarche have high aspirations, believing they could get to OFSAA.
Pettypiece said this year’s club reminds him of one that did make it to the provincial level. They are playing Tier 1 this year and while they will have tough games against larger schools, he believes that could benefit them when they drop back down to the “AA” level come playoff time.
Much of the team are Grade 9 and 10 players, he added.
“We have to experience going through tough regular season games but they’ll be better off for it,” he said.
The coaches like what they’ve seen so far.
“We’ve loved every game we’ve played thus far,” he said. “They’ll adjust to not having as much time or space.”
North Star played two exhibition games and now two playoff games.
The Wolves have only one more game left before the Christmas break. That will be their first road game of the regular season and it is a rematch with the Sabres. That will be held at the Vollmer Centre in LaSalle Dec. 16 at 3 p.m.
North Star’s next home game will be Jan. 6 against St. Anne. That will be at 3 p.m. at the Libro Centre.
North Star girls hockey starts season with a loss and a tie
By Ron Giofu
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