Storm junior women second in spirit at nationals

Newfoundland and Labrador’s junior women placed second in spirit at the Canadian Ultimate Championships’ Junior Division this summer.

The squad’s spirit captain, Zoe Baker Pike, was also ranked among the top spirit captains in the tournament.

Spirit scores are compiled after every game, with opponents ranking each other in categories related to the five tenets of Spirit of the Game: knowledge and use of the rules, fair-mindedness, fouls and body contact, positive attitude and self-control, and communication.

Twenty-two players represented the province at the tournament. Assistant coach Claire Moore-Gibbons says that with the average player age being just 15 years old, it was a developmental season for the squad.

“This year’s Storm players were challenged to communicate, grow and adjust to their formidable opponents like never before,” she said. “I am truly in awe of the progress these players have made and, because of who they are as people, they lifted each other up and connected in a way that made Storm far more than the sum of its parts.”

The team lost all of its seven games but Moore-Gibbons says they were able to achieve team goals throughout the experience.

“Our goals were still quite lofty, and this team met or exceeded every single goal we set, including scoring against every team we faced, grinding out the game time with steady, unyielding defence, converting a defensive start into a point — not once but twice! — and even starting the last game of the tournament by taking the first point of the game with ease.”

Congratulations to Storm for representing the province well in Edmonton!

Storm is sponsored by Veterinary Specialty Centre of Newfoundland and Labrador.