Storm, Rockettes medal at Chevrolet Cup
The Southwest Junior A Storm finished with a bronze medal at the Chevrolet Cup. Courtesy Nadine Diabo
The Chevrolet Cup, the provincial championships for women and girls’ hockey in Quebec, saw a lot of action-packed games in Quebec City and Saguenay over the weekend - with plenty of Kahnawa’kehró:non taking part.
The Southwest Junior A Storm took home bronze, with the help of four Kahnawake players: Shyanna Day, Lexey Leclaire, Ava Standup, and Tewa White. Their teammate Breeze Lahache was unfortunately forced to miss the tournament due to an elbow injury sustained during the regional playoffs.
The Storm lost 3-2 in a shootout to the Gatineau Explosive, with Day scoring the only goal in the shootout for the Storm.
“It was a devastating loss, to lose in a shootout like that,” said Day’s mother Nadine Diabo, who accompanied her to Quebec City.
Still, Diabo said it was an overall great experience for everyone on the team, and considering how far they got during the year, it was a positive season.
“In the end, when she looked back at her season, she realized how great the season was and how everything came together,” said Diabo.
Marc Ikin, coach of the Storm, agreed.
“The accomplishment was still something to be proud of. And really, I think it was hard in the moment, but I’m sure the players look back and realize that the game could have gone either way. They should be proud of their accomplishments. They were playing good hockey, and it really speaks to the team’s progress over the season,” said Ikin.
The Storm started their tournament on the wrong foot, suffering a 5-0 loss against the Richelieu Felines.
“We had a tough time. We didn’t show up, but we got better and better as it went on,” said Ikin.
They won their next two games, a 2-1 shootout win against the eventual champion Westlake Wild and a 3-2 overtime win against the Chaudiere Appalaches Huskies.
Day was the one who scored the overtime winner to send the Storm to the semifinals.
It was her third time at the Chevy Cup, and her mother said that it does not get less special even on repeat trips.
“I used to be a hockey player myself. I know what those feelings are like. And for her to also go and get to experience those same things, it’s really amazing, it’s something that stays with you,” said Diabo.
Ikin said the whole team played well in the tournament, and against Gatineau, including the four from Kahnawake.
“Everybody, including those four, stepped up their game,” said Ikin.
“Shyanna, she played very well. She scored a game winner and overtime winner. I think she really was dialed in and focused. Tewa was fantastic. She was really great on the forecheck, she was relentless, turning over pucks and putting pressure. And I think that helped a lot in the last game. I thought Lexi had one of her best games of the year against Gatineau.
“She got points and played great on defense. She caused many turnovers from the other team at the blue line or before they could be in the zone. Ava had a lot of good shots on net, some good passing plays, and she was really strong in our zone.”
Sign up for email updates from The Eastern Door
Iotenhariio Lahache’s U13A Suroit Rockettes also made the medal round, finishing with a silver medal following a 3-1 loss to the MRO Banshees in the finals on April 6.
Ten other players from the community on six teams also participated in the Chevrolet Cup, but did not make it to the medal rounds.
