Every team had their moments this year, we saw some old, rugged vets hold down the fort, we saw the new kids run and gun, some highlight reel goals, and some spectacular saves.
For the first time the WMSL decided to go with a Senior B playoff format – teams placing 3 & 4 in their pools would play a crossover semi-final and a final game.
Led by #18 Clare Johnston’s hattrick and 5 point game, no less than 9 Rush players got on the scoresheet as Whitby topped London 8-3 in one semi-final while #12 Tenescha Caddick’s marker at 3:58 of the second broke a 3-3 tie and Toronto went on the beat a determined Akwesasne team 7-3.
In the League Championship semi-final 11 Aces players reached the scoresheet as a balanced Arthur Aces team rode a 3-goal run in a 1 minute and 18 second span of the second to get past Hamilton 8-2. In the other semi-final, it was down to the wire as Attack’s #10 Mekwan Tulpin potted the winner at 5:30 of the third and Chelsea Doolittle and the rest of the Grand River D held off wave after wave of Niagara attempts late in the game. Grand River 3 Niagara 2.
Two rivals very familiar with each other over the years squared off in the WMSL Senior B final. Dylana Williams and Clare Johnston led the way with 3 points each as the Rush ran to a 4-1 win over the Toronto Stars. This Rush team looked like Rush teams of old with crisp passing, plenty of motion on the offence, and a tough defence.
Every team had their moments this year, we saw some old, rugged vets hold down the fort, we saw the new kids run and gun, some highlight reel goals, and some spectacular saves. The league is in great shape after that awful two-year hiatus and better things are ahead for this league for sure.