Hearts of, and for, Panthers!
I was so pleased to learn this summer that the Lady Wolves U-18 team was indeed becoming a real entity! Knowing some of these ‘characters’, I was glad to see they are still playing firstly but ready to hear some stories as well. In all this anticipation, I apparently forgot to get in the loop!
I needed a refresher on the team, so thanks to Coach, Scott Hughson who got me up to speed. The Panthers play in the N.O.W.H.L. (Northern Ontario Women’s Hockey League) and are registered as a ‘B’ level team (based on a population-based designation). Their league opponents include teams from Kapuskasing, Hearst, Timmins and Temiskaming Shores. Their league games are based on a “Super weekend’ format tournament-style play.
So far, they have they attended two of these Super Weekends, the first one was way, way up in Kapuskasing and the second only way up in Timmins. Coach says the team is doing very well and improving with every game.
There have been teams from Thunder Bay and North Bay participating in these weekends as well, which is a great experience for their team to have. North Bay looks to be their competition to go on to the Provincials later this winter, expects Mr. Hughson. Their first game versus the Bay ended in a 2-2 tie so this will prove to be an exciting series in February, for sure!
They played in their first tournament in September in Orillia as a way to get their feet wet, so to speak. A lot of their team actually only got their first experience of women’s hockey during this weekend. They played very well, earning their first victory in their last game. Their next actual tournament is not until January in Collingwood but they are exploring other tournament options for later in the season.
The big news, however, is that they have a fundraiser game coming up Thursday, December 21 at 7 pm vs. the WTPS (Wiikwemkoong Tribal Police Service) Freeze! This looks to be one serious affair, with alleged taunts already being thrown down.
Wanting to confirm at least one of them, I confronted Coach Hughson to see if this heckling was true and he had no problem in his tell-it-like-it-is fashion to assert, “I know our girls are looking forward to this game but are concerned that they will be too fast for Mr. Peltier and crew. They are wondering if they should go all out or just take it easy on them. I told them I am expecting nothing but 100% effort at this game!” Well, that confirmed that, the Lady Panthers have laid down the gauntlet, apparently, Freeze!
Constable Jamie Peltier, surely this can’t be one-sided journalism here. What have you got to say for yourself and the rest of the Freeze? This thrown-down game played in the Thunder Dome in Wiikwemkoong should be a blast!
Wait, this just found! Another Mr. Hughson taunt that just popped up on my search! It read, “That is if Constable Peltier and crew don’t get cold feet and decide that we are too fast for them!” I’m aghast with the audacity, Constable Peltier, don’t Freeze me out!
Said Constable Jamie Peltier attended the Little Current Recreation Centre for the formal signing of the Lady Panthers vs. Freeze Hockey challenge with representatives from the Manitoulin Lady Panthers Hockey Team. The game has been scheduled for Thursday, December 21, 2023 at 7 pm at the Wikwemikong Thunderdome. “Come out and show your support and watch a fast-paced hockey game. Admission: $2 OR a non-perishable food item.”
The team have a number of exhibition games scheduled for after the New Year holiday. They travel to North Bay for a double-header on January 6th and are working out dates to play against the Sault and even the Sudbury BB.
In other LP news, back on December 3 they hosted the Sudbury Lady Wolves BB team at NEMI Rec Centre. They were on the wrong side of 4-0 and 4-1 finals but the Coach says, “the girls learned a lot from playing against this higher level team and look forward to bringing what we learned from these to our upcoming practices as we continue to strive towards our goal of playing in the OWHA Provincial Championships in April.” Their league playoffs will be hosted by Hearst on the first weekend of March.
Coach Hughson is impressed that the team continues to improve every game. Being a new team with most of our players coming from different backgrounds of play, it is a work-in-progress that is coming along great. The future is very bright for these players as we build our team for not only this season but for years to come. Most of our players will be eligible to return to play next season and the experiences we are having this season will prove invaluable as we look to the future. Well said, Mr. Hughson.
As for this week, they have a double-header coming up on Saturday in Temiskaming Shores. Game 1 starts at 12:50 and Game 2 goes at 4:40. Provided there’s a viable internet connection, both games will be live-streamed on their Lady Panthers Facebook page. Thanks to Ashley Manitowabi for doing these for the team.
The MLP Roster is #68 Izzy Hughson G Manitowaning, #50 Ciera Sokoloski G Espanola, #21 Zaagaasge Toulouse D Little Current, #27 Emery Watson D and Captain from Mindemoya, #45 Kara Peltier D Wiikwemkoong, 15 Paungbiisohn Trudeau D of Wiikwemkoong, #66 Camaryn Ramsay D Espanola, #17 Ava Corbiere C M’Chigeeng, 7 Tessa Prior W Mindemoya, #57 Abbie Hiens W Mindemoya, #16 Zahara Dube C Wiikwemkoong, #13, Shaye Ominika W of Wiikwemkoong; #42 Hope Eshkibok W also of Wikwemikong, 9 Ali Laginski C Espanola, #28 Gracie Gibson W Espanola and #97 Nelly Toulouse-Abitong W from the North Shore’s Sagamok. Their staff includes Scot Hughson, Head Coach, Al Laginski, Assistant Coach, Sonya Gibbs-Stencill, Assistant Coach Brent Assinewai, Assistant Coach, Naomi Wolfe, Trainer and Marcie Hughson, Manager.
Best of luck, Panthers!
