BOW VALLEY – When it comes to the Wild, the Bow Valley Grizzlies are at the top of the food chain.
The Grizzlies, loaded with local hockey talent, clawed through the Calgary-based Wild, 3-1, in the Tier 3 championship game in the Southern Alberta Women’s Hockey Association (SAWHA) on March 17.
Courtney Rolando scored twice and Katie Atchison added one to lift the Canmore-based Grizzlies over its rivals at the Great Plains arena in Calgary.
“Super proud that we won,” said Kaylee Ram, team manager and player. “It’s just such a nice feeling to be on the camaraderie of hockey and especially after COVID when people have been struggling and been at home for so long. To be able to not only move your body intentionally, play a game you love, and also meet new people and come out on top, it’s a nice way to hit that two-year mark of COVID.”
Made up of a slew of former Banff Hockey Academy players, the Grizzlies ruled the division all season, finishing first with a record of 26-5-3 and 55 points.
The crafty Wild nipped at their heels, though, finishing strongly in second with 48 points.
When playoffs arrived, a showdown between the two powerhouses seemed inevitable and the Wild drew first blood, winning 2-1 in a shootout in the semifinals on March 11.
The Wild advanced to the championship game and the loss forced the Grizzlies into a do-or-die match up against the third ranked Ricochets.
Although the Grizzlies ran over the Ricochets 5-3 on March 15 to advance and get a shot at revenge.
“They were the rival team all season,” said Ram. “Everyone just wanted to win on both sides, for sure.”
In the final, Wild’s Mandy Burgess opened up scoring early in the first period, but Rolando tied it at one just 90 seconds later.
In the third, and still tied up, Rolando had the magic stick and scored the go-ahead goal, which was quickly followed by an insurance marker from Atchison.
The Grizzlies held on to the two-goal advantage and secured the Tier 3 championship.
“It was 1-1 going into the third, and it was a 'show everyone you want this' and that’s what they did,” said Ram.
It was consecutive weekends of glory for Ram, who was winning all titles everywhere, after helping the Vixens of the Bow Valley-based Rundle Women's Hockey League (RWHL) win top spot in the championship game.
The Vixens, playing with a short bench due to illness, defeated the Jill's 3-2 on March 13.
"It was pretty exciting between a part of the Vixens the weekend before and winning with the Grizzlies was the cherry on top," she said.
The RWHL plans on expanding to six teams next season. For more information, email [email protected].
And for more information about the Grizzlies, email [email protected].
