Back in early April two Girls Atom C hockey teams went 5-0 at Provincials, then met in the Championship game going 5 OT’s . The irony is that both teams are 15 minutes from one another’s home rinks.

Joe Rutter, Coach of the Chatsworth Rebels, wrote this piece in response to that game -

The Greatest Lesson Ever Played.

After 3 periods of regulation hockey and another 5 periods of overtime, arguably the Greatest Game Ever Played in Atom C Girls’ Hockey between the Owen Sound Ice Hawks and Chatsworth Rebels was over.

When the 2-1 goal finally went in there was an imperceptible pause...

before the eventual Ontario Women’s Provincial Championship celebration; was it really over? The arena was packed with family and friends that made the drive to North York to support the two teams from Grey County. As the game marched on other teams and their fans started to fill the arena. The atmosphere and reactions to the close calls, hit posts, crossbars and great plays became louder and more electric. All of the players fed off the encouragement and cheers from the growing crowd. In the middle of the game they flooded the ice and the Ice Hawks and Rebels retired to their respective dressing rooms to use the washroom, adjust their skates, fill their water bottles and get something to eat to replenish their little fuel tanks.

By the end of the 4th period of overtime the girls were simply exhausted and worn out but there was no quitting from any of the players. Eventually the deadlock was broken and the game was over in the 5th overtime after 85 minutes of play.

The road to the gold medal game had Owen Sound defeat Kanata 4-3, Mooretown 3-2, Woodstock 6-2, Stratford 3-0, Russell Castor 2-0. The Chatsworth Rebels path to the championship had them defeating Stratford 2-1, Peterborough 2-0, Clarence-Rockland 3-2, Temiskaming 5-1 and Mooretown 4-3.

After the initial goal celebration, the teams gathered at centre ice shook hands and accepted their medals, proud of their accomplishments. It was an incredible season for both teams to make it to the Provincial Championship. The post-game celebration between the teams was special because many of the girls were friends from our local schools. The teams came together for a group photo where friends from the two opposing teams sought each other out. Friends from the Ice Hawks and Rebels compared their Gold and Silver medals, put their arms around each other and in a true lesson on sportsmanship they were sincerely happy for each other, their teams and their communities.

The 2019 Atom C Girls’ Hockey game might not be the greatest hockey game ever played but it was the Greatest Lesson Ever Played.

And here's the game!