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'ednesday, January 28, 2009
on-line: www.goderichsignalstar.com
She -Devils give the horns to Teeswater tournament
Gerard Crimes
signal -star staff
The Goderich She -Devils hockey team
is celebrating their tenth season on this ice
this year in a big way.
The ladies recently returned from Tees -
water January 11, after taking gold at the
Teeswater Model T's tournament.
An opening 1-1 tie against Shallow Lake
set the stage for a very close final, as the
She -Devils would once again meet up in
the championship round.
The game was close, but Janet Culliton
scored the one and only goal assisted . by
Jennifer Blake and Denise Johnston.
"This is the first tourney we've won in a
while," said defenceman Rhonda Fritzley.
"It was pretty nice. It only took ten years."
The . SIN -Devils also. took down the
Brockton Brewsers 2-0 and Teeswater's
Chicks with Sticks by a whopping 7-0.
"We are willing to learn, we're support-
ive of each other and most importantly
we have fun," said Fritzley of the team's
strengths. She said the roster is getting big-
ger every year.
While most of the team is from Goder-
ich, Fritzley said there are players from
Seaforth and Clinton filling out the roster.
It's an eclectic group, she said, and one
that has come a long way from when Leslie
Papple started up the She -Devils in Blyth
ten years ago.
"We had old figure• skaters, old ringette
Photo submitted
The Goderich. She -Devils (above) after their victory in Teeswater Jan. 11. The She -
Devils' tournament record was 3-0-1.
players," Fritzley said. "Only a handful
of players had played hockey before. We
went from people who can't even skate to
good players."
Not belonging to a formal league, the
She -Devils travel to tournaments • across
Southwester Ontario, taking on London,
Windsor, Kincardine, Kitchener and Sea -
forth, among others.
She said when they first started, there
was nowhere for ladies to play in the area.
The ladies are in a similar situation with
nowhere to go this year. Ice schedules at
both Goderich's arenas haven't worked in
their favour.
As a result, she said the team now plays
and practices in Clinton, under the direc-
tion of their new coach - Clinton Radar
Mark VanDooren.
"He's taught us a whole lot of new skills,"
Fritzley said. "He's a good coach."
The possibility of joining a league has
been tossed around by the team, she said,
now that they are starting to gel together
on the ice.
"There is a league North of town," she
said. "It's an option now that we're getting
more people out and our skills are improv-
ing."
A situation unique to a women's team,
Fritzley said the roster has changed many
times over the years as families came first.
"We've had people come and go," she
laughed. "People getting pregnant - with
girl's hockey, that's hard."
She said the She -Devils are always wel-
coming of new players, and any girls 19
and older can come out to the Clinton Are:
na Sundays at 3 p.m.
The invite extends to students in college
and university, and Fritzley adds the team
currently enjoys a handful of college and
university athletes.
"(We're) always open to new players
that want to come out. Any, skill level," she
said. "It's just for fun."
Junior 'C' Sailors - page 26
Minor sports - page 24
Senior 'Al Pirates - page 26
•
Photos by Denny Scott and Andy Bader
Left, Goderich Sailor Derek Sowerby and crew had a tough time in their 8-1 Toss to Wingham at home Saturday. Middle, with only seven players, including Bryn Lewis
(pictured), the Goderich Novice Ringette team pulled out a 10-7 win against Mitchell this Sunday. Right, Pirate Neil Steenstra eyes up the Radar's defence leading
up to Friday's exciting 5-4 shootout finish at the Maitland Rec. Centre.