NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
The U14 Medicine Hat Mud Dawgs pose with their banner and gold medals after winning 4-2 over the Regina Ice on Sunday to capture first place in the Ed Horvath tournament.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Medicine Hat ringette was on full display this weekend at the Ed Horvath tournament.
The U14 Mud Dawgs and U19 Chicken Hawks kept the gold at home, winning their championship games Sunday morning. The Mud Dawgs beat the Regina Ice 4-2 and the Chicken Hawks defeated the Buffalo Plains Blitz 8-1.
Mud Dawgs head coach Jenny Wright was happy they could win on home ice in front of family and friends and was proud of her team.
“It’s awesome to win with the home crowd cheering us on and the girls did really good all weekend,” Wright said. “We knew we had some tough competition coming in and the girls shined and rose to the occasion.”
Eden Schmunk, Jayna Allchurch, Sutton Provost and Leighton Wight each scored for the Mud Dawgs in their goal medal win. They finished the Horvath with a 4-0 record.
Wright says they are proud of their team and look forward to the rest of the season.
“We have a good mix of girls. They all come and bring a little bit of different things to each game and to practice, so it’s good,” Wright said.
The Chicken Hawks also went a perfect 4-0 on the weekend on their way to a gold medal. Head coach John Karamanos said winning first was their goal heading into the tournament and was happy to see his team achieve their goals.
“They played strong, they controlled all the games and we had a really strong tournament,” Karamanos said. “This team has commitment. They set goals and they meet the goals. They’re such a large team, it’s a different lineup every game because we have to sit five every time. But it’s a very committed, focused team and they have their eyes on the prize.”
Kyle Kallenberger, who scored once in the Chicken Hawks gold medal game, said the win is important for their team and the Medicine Hat Ringette association. She says it was a growing weekend for them.
“It shows the growth that we’re having as a team and how much we’re coming together. Having a big team is hard at times, but it’s a fun team to play with,” Kallenberger said.
Leah Mason and Kayla Robinson each scored twice in the win with Kylee Waldegger, Grace Carrier and Alycia Simpson rounding out the scoring with a goal each.
Karamanos appreciated the community support and for those who helped put the tournament together.
“It just couldn’t be any better, it’s a very great tournament for Medicine Hat,” Karamanos said. “Lots of people here, it gets good support and it keeps the ringette train moving in town. We have to keep pushing for more young players to come play ringette, it’s a really great game.”
Two other Medicine Hat teams won medals over the weekend, with the U12 Phoenix taking silver after a finals matchup with the Saskatoon Jets. The U16 Matrix won bronze against the Lethbridge Rattlers.
In the open division, the Medicine Hat Force and Medicine Hat Smash each took first place.
