Palmer girls hockey team reaches district finals

PALMER — The Palmer Lady Pioneers Tier II U14 girls’ comp team racked up four wins and earned a spot in Sunday’s championship game at the 2015 Pacific District Championships, March 5-7 at Sharks Ice in San Jose, California, before losing the championship game 3-2 with four minutes left in triple overtime.

“It was a hard-fought game,” said Tim Popowski, coach of the U14 Lady Pioneers, of that final game against the Kenai Icehawks. “Girls for both teams played hard all the way to the last whistle. The association is looking forward to next year, keeping our eye on the national tournament as an obtainable goal.”

Pioneer Amateur Hockey Association’s Lady Pioneers played the Alaska Icebreakers on March 5, winning 11-0; Anaheim Lady Ducks on March 6, winning 4-0; Kenai Peninsula Icehawks on March 7, winning 3-1. The Lady Pioneers won their game against Anchorage North Stars on Saturday, 4-3, putting them into Sunday’s championship against the Kenai Icehawks.

Tate Senden scored a total of seven goals (two power-play goals) and five assists at the tournament; Leah Lund scored five goals and four assists; Hannah Lowery scored four goals (two power-play goals) and one assist; co-captain Capt. Micah Richards scored two goals and one assist; Addison Swanson scored two goals and one assist; Kaylee Merrill scored one goal and four assists; Taylor Johnson scored one goal and two assists; Delaney Shults scored one goal and two assists; co-captain Kiley Fish scored one goal and one assist; Coree Sanders scored two assists and Breghan Theis scored an assist.

Goaltender Ashley Engan posted a 1.75 goals against average and a .901 saves percentage in her four games. Goaltender Rachel Symmes, in her two games, posted a 1.50 goals against average and a .909 saves percentage.

The team was the only girls’ team from the Valley to compete at the event in San Jose, said Kirk Payne, PAHA board president, who launched the organization’s first girls’ hockey team in 2011.

“We made an effort to make a place for girls to play girls’ hockey in the Valley,” he said. “It began with these girls—the PAHA U14s—as 11-year-olds. They can now compete at a national level with some of the best teams in the country.”

Delaney Shults, 14, was one of the pink-jerseyed girls playing offense on that original PAHA Lady Pioneers girls’ team.

The most meaningful aspects of this team’s trip to San Jose?

“Having the opportunity to play in the championship game,” Delaney said. “It was an amazing opportunity and a humbling experience. And, I enjoyed bonding with my team.”

Payne said PAHA plans to continue offering opportunities for U12, U14 and U16 girls to compete.

“Starting next month, we will begin to assemble girls at the older levels who wish to compete in tournaments around the country,” he said.

Popowski says opportunities are available for youth girls at the state, district and national levels and that PAHA is focusing on building individual hockey skills and creating team chemistry. This was the third year PAHA has had a girls’ team participate at the district level, he said.

Combined tryouts for PAHA girls’ U14 and U16 Tier II competitive hockey teams are scheduled for 6:30 p.m., May 4, 5, and 7, at Brett Memorial Ice Arena, with warmup ice scheduled for April 28 and 30, 6:30 p.m., at the Brett. Fees have not yet been determined.

Tim Popowski, Ty Senden, Mark Engan, Brian Swanson and Brian Fish will coach the teams. PAHA will also be forming girls’ recreational hockey teams. Anyone interested in more information may contact Tim Popowski at (907) 350-7288, Cheeksandpopow2@gmail.com.