Team BC cruised to a 5-1 win over women's hockey powerhouse Ontario at the 2019 Canada Winter Games Pool B preliminary round on Monday.
"There is no doubt that Ontario is a really good hockey team, but the funny thing about sports is that it really can go ether way," said Team BC head coach Delaney Collins. "Confidence comes and goes but it is more like assuredness that we have. The real truth is that there is lots of tournament left. We need to take this, enjoy it and move on tomorrow and reset."
While there is no complete win-loss records for women's hockey at the Canada Winter Games, it has been at least since before 2007, and perhaps the first time, that BC has defeated Ontario at the Games. Ontario had won four consecutive gold medals at the Games, up until 2015 when Quebec stood atop the podium.
Collins said she was most impressed by Team BC's passing.
"I was really proud of our passing and the way we moved the puck. It is abstract at times. We will throw it into spaces and we will chip pucks into areas. We don't always necessarily have the eyes to see the pass but we find the pass," said Collins. "We were also very creative and would pull the check to us then give the puck."
BC had goals from Rebecca Clarke (North Vancouver) and Anna MacCara (Penticton) in the first period and never looked back.
Sarah Paul (West Kelowna) extended Team BC's lead after a hard shot off her stick bounced awkwardly off the Ontario goalies blocker and up and over her shoulder. Paul rushed towards the net and with the goalie sprawled out on her back the puck dribbled across the line.
Clarke notched her second goal of the game in the third period to make it for Team BC. While Ontario managed to get one past Kayla Munro (North Vancouver). Chanreet Bassi (Lake Country) had Team BC's final goal of the night, dumping it into the Ontario end and into the empty net.
Collins said she was proud of both her goalies, but pointed out Munro's play against Ontario was a huge reason to Team BC winning,
"The most important thing was she was playing out of the crease and got big as shooters bared down on her," said Collins. "One of her biggest moves of the night came after Ontario finally scored on her about mid-way through the middle frame, she tapped our defence on the shin pads."
The win is BC's second in the preliminary round. They now face Nova Scotia on Tuesday at 4 p.m.