The Okanagan Hockey Academy settled for a split in its Canadian Sport School Hockey League Female Varsity Showcase against the Banff Hockey Academy.
In their opening game on Dec. 9, the OHA overcame a 2-0 deficit to win 5-2 with Elly Whitmore (Anchorage, AK) scoring twice. OHA coach Christina Sharun said her team had a slow start.
“They stuck with it and ended up getting a few pretty nice goals in the third period and pulling out the win,” she said.
Female division added to Canadian Sports School Hockey League – Penticton Western NewsIn the second game, a 3-2 shootout loss, Kayla Savoie-Penton made 38 saves for the Banff Hockey Academy (3-16-0). Sharun said her team, now 10-6-2 on the season, played pretty well, but felt fatigue and some injuries affected their overall play.
“We were a little bit flat throughout. It was a little bit more of a back-and-forth battle,” she said. “Overall, in the season series we did really well against Banff. It was the only game we dropped to them.”
READ MORE: Female division added to Canadian Sports School Hockey League
Among the players who stood out to Sharun were Adrianna Kobyleckyj and Sarah Paul. Kobyleckyj is one of the older players coming from New York Sharun said she has been an awesome addition. Kobyleckyj works very hard on and off the ice.
“Great positive impact in the locker room, leader on the team,” said Sharun, of the third leading scorer with 21 points in 18 games.
Paul, 13, from West Kelowna is playing with a ton of poise. Sharun said Paul is settling into her game and has seven goals and 11 points in 15 games. Paul has a phenomenal skill set, including a shot and is starting to recognize how to use it.
“She has been rewarded over the past few weekends with a few points,” said Sharun, who is excited to see what she Paul in the second half.
The varsity squad returns to action in the new year with a trio of games against Shawnigan Lake on the road, then return home to face Delta at the OHA Training Centre Jan. 20 to 22.
