March Playoffs 2009
 

Dramatic Play in Lieutenant Governor’s Tourney
By Brenlee Coates
brenleecoates@shaw.ca

The Lieutenant Governor’s tournament wrapped up on Sunday, Feb. 3 this year with the Aboriginal team coming out on top of our league’s top Predators. 
The tournament was weekend-long and was a very successful effort from the league’s executives and volunteers. 
Teams got to play several games each and a tournament banquet was organized for the Saturday night in order for out-of-town teams to receive some hospitality and bonding time with the MWJHL girls. 
“The banquet was actually pretty good,” said graduating player for the Western Predators, Lindsey Magitioux.
“There was a good turnout and the food was really good too!”  
Magitioux and the rest of the Preds lost in overtime to the Aboriginal team – a provincial team comprised of talented players of Aboriginal descent as young as 13. 
“The Aboriginal team deserved to win,” said Magitioux of their first-place finish.  “We didn’t come out to play – and they did – so, good for them!”
The Aboriginal team definitely shone at the tourney, and there was lots of hubbub circulating around the arena over their skill level at the final game.
“They’re good,” said Renee Jeanson, forward for the Northern Stars.
“They have super good goaltending.  She stumped us – that’s how we got knocked out.”
The Aboriginal team’s netminder prevented any goals during regular play in the final game – and shutting out people like Janelle Wallace, MWJHL league leader in scoring – isn’t an easy task.
            But though the Predators were trumped by the Aboriginal team in the tournament’s final hockey game, they were not defeated in one of the other main competitions of the weekend.
The Preds dominated the skit competition at Saturday’s banquet.
“Our skit was a Rocky-themed skit with Adrienne and Mr. T,” explained Magitioux.  “There was a dance with Adrienne and Rocky to Lady in Red then a fight with Mr. T and Rocky to Eye of the Tiger.  The rest of the girls were all doing a dance around the boxing ring… Thunder Bay wanted an encore so we did that for them.”
            The skits night was designed to allow out-of-towners and the various MWJHL teams to mix and mingle during the weekend rather than just showing up to the arena, playing hockey, and heading separate ways like in many other tournament settings. 
The Ice, the Stars, and Regina – as well as the triumphant Predators – all contributed dramatizations that night.
Whether or not we girls seem a little old for make-believe, it sounds like a good time was had.  Too bad the Preds’ moves didn’t help them win on the ice this time.
 
Brenlee Coates plays centre for the Prairie Blaze.  She is also a student enrolled in the Creative Communications program at Red River College.  She will be writing a monthly column for the league’s website and newsletter.  Please feel free to provide her with feedback or pass along a story idea to her by email.

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