Thunder Win In Niagara
The Chatham Thunder were the U12 champions in Niagara this past weekend – Contributed Photo
The tournament started out as a preview of how it would finish as the Thunder played an aggressive Etobicoke Stinger team Friday afternoon. The Chatham girls started out slow and were down a couple before head coach Renee Rivard got them settled in and playing the way they are capable of. Julia Haggerty had her best game of the year, amassing a seven point game with three goals and four assists to lead Chatham to a 10-4 victory. Her center, Kaia Rivard scored a hat trick as well. Kate Thompson had two goals and two assists and Myah Walters and Abby Lumley added single scores. Rebecca Durocher and Allison Newman had two assists each and single helpers were given to Walters, Gabby Arbour and Alayna White.
Game 2 on Saturday was against the Guelph Predators. A spirited affair led Chatham to an 8-0 win. Myah Walters led the attack with three goals and an assist. Kaia Rivard scored a couple more times and Allison Newman, Rebecca Durocher and Julia Haggerty all added a single tally. Single assists were given to Rivard, Haggerty and Maya Haines.
Game 3 sawthe Thunder face a tough Ajax Stars team that had been looking to play Chatham all year. The Thunder came out wide-awake and were leading 5-1 at the half on the way to an 8-3 win. Kaia Rivard continued lighting the lamp with another four goals. Myah Walters was relentless as she tallied another hat trick and an assist as well. Julia Haggerty added a goal and assist. Gabby Arbour and Rebecca Durocher both had two assists and singles were given to Abby Lumley, Kate Thompson and Alayna White.
The championship game was held Sunday afternoon against the Etobicoke team once again. This game would be different from the last. Chatham would jump out to a 5-1 lead at the half and extend it to 7-2 with about five minutes remaining. The team was well on their way to another gold medal. Etobicoke rallied and came within one goal in the final minute…but the Thunder held on and won 7-6. Kate Thompson had two goals and an assist. Myah Walters had one and one. Single goals were scored by Gabby Arbour, Julia Haggerty, Abby Lumley and Kaia Rivard.
Goalie Natalie Haggerty backstopped all four games. She finished with an impressive 3.25 Goals Against Average , allowing 13 goals over 4 games. She also earned the only shutout in their division. Chatham had four of the top six scorers in the tournament. Myah Walters, Julia Haggerty, Kaia Rivard and Kate Thompson amassed 28 goals and 15 assists combined in only four games. With a goalie that’s more like a wall, a stifling defence and firepower that comes out of everywhere, this Chatham team is special.
The Thunder have the next week off to practice and play their next game at home Sunday March 19. From there it’s off to the regional final in London the weekend of March 24-26.
Pictured Above: Front row- goalie Natalie Haggerty. Second Row from left- Assistant coach John Thompson, Head Coach Renee Rivard, Kate Thompson, Myah Walters, Maya Haines, Gabby Arbour and Trainer Jeff Walters. Back row from left- Abby Lumley, Kaia Rivard, Allison Newman, Alayna White, Julia Haggerty and Rebecca Durocher.