GRADE 8 GOALIE’S GOT GAME IN CALL-UP FOR GRYPHON GIRLS IN FRIENDLY AGAINST MIGHTY HOYAS

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST — It’s intimidating enough to be moving up to high school from public school.

But when Grade 8 Muskoka Beechgrove goalie Sara Gonneau got the call-up for the GHS girl’s hockey team yesterday, she knew she’d face stiff competition from her more experienced Huntsville opponents — some of whom she knows well ironically playing with an Under-15 team up there.

And she was more than up for the challenge in a game that ended up in a 4-0 shut-out — even though it was a win for the visiting team.

It’s a good thing, because the Gryphs were without a goalie going in to the friendly.

While the Gryphons fought gamely in the defensive zone in front of Gonneau, the Hoyas controlled all the play — as their netminder at the other end of the ice was only left to watch her counterpart face the onslaught of shots.

The game Gravenhurst High School team was held well in check inside the Hoyas’ blue line barely getting off a shot or two on goal.

Gonneau, however, held the fort against generous opponents who out-skated their hosts in one of two games, including a later boys matchup, between the two Muskoka schools.

Sara Gonneau’s new and future teammates congratulate her after a great game in net Wednesday in Gravenhurst.

The generous victors graciously made a lot of extra passes before eventually having to fire some hard-to-stop shots on net.

Hoyas coach Chris Sellon said was the collegial thing to do against an overmatched opponent in the neighbourly game.

One of those shots, early on, Gonneau snagged with her catcher’s mitt that would have made a TSN highlight reel.

Several other stand-up saves she made with her chest protector, goal stick and pads showed she will be starting next season for GHS.

No wonder the Gryphons rallied around her after the game to congratulate their newetst and future teammate.

Meanwhile, the Hoyas will be hosting the Georgian Bay Secondary School Athletics hockey finals next month in Huntsville.

The Gryphons fought hard, but were pinned into their own end for most of the game despite valiant attempts to break out over their blue line.
Holding the Hoyas mostly in check was cause for great celebration Wednesday for the game Gryphon girls hockey team.
Rotary exchange student Elise Badert, of Belgium, chats with her first host family “mom,” Leslie McCann, after the game; while the first-time hockey player’s second family parents, the Stevensons, were in the stands.
The Gryphons and Hoyas boys teams wrapped up the double-header after the girls game.

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