CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — What a difference a year can make.
Breanna Beck lost 5-3 to the Atlantic Attack in the 2018 National Ringette League final in Winnipeg.
“It’s nice to be on the other side of that,” she said Saturday on the ice at MacLauchlan Arena after her Calgary Rath squad defeated the Attack 5-3 in this year’s championship game. “Man, they brought everything they had. It was a great game.”
Beck stood on her head during Saturday’s contest, making 53 saves for the victory.
“It’s unbelievable,” the Red Deer, Alta., native said. “It’s been a long time coming. . . I was a backup goalie (the last time) Rath won it.”
That was 2013 in Fredericton, N.B. Beck played with the Edmonton Wham for the past five years before rejoining her former team this season.
“We couldn't be happier to have her back. She’s home,” said Lindsey Geddes, one of Calgary’s captains.
Calgary has two fourths, two sixths and a fifth-place finish since that gold in 2013.
“It’s overwhelming,” Geddes said. “I’ve been on the team for six seasons and I don't think we’ve ever got better than fourth.”
It was a family affair for Geddes as her father, Paul, is an assistant coach with the team. He has coached her for about 20 years.
“All I wanted was to win for him,” she said.
Geddes accepted the trophy with fellow captains Justine Exner and Shaundra Bruvall.
“This team is so special,” she said. “We love each other. . . There’s no energy drainers on this team. It’s really special. It’s a good group.”
Terese Mazurkewich and Bruvall gave Calgary a 2-0 lead 12 minutes into the first period.
“Our starts haven’t been great, so it was huge,” Geddes said.
Miguelle Proulx cut the lead in half three minutes into the second period but Jasmine Bearss restored the two-goal lead nearly five minutes later.
Exner scored a pair of power-play goals in the third period to give Calgary a four-goal cushion. Britney Snowdon cashed in on the power play in the third and added another late in the fourth but it was as close as the Attack would get.
Calgary has won a pair of bronzes at the event in 2008 and 2011.
Related links
Calgary defeats Atlantic Attack for title
Heads held high: Atlantic Attack wins silver in National Ringette League play
