The North Shore Storm 12U girls hockey team was feeling pretty grateful this Thanksgiving weekend as they traveled north of the border to Thunder Bay, where they were met with welcome signs and posters, plus doughnuts and Gatorade waiting for them at the rink. Two Thunder Bay teams made the trip to the North Shore last season, and the Storm were glad to finally return the gesture with a visit of their own.
“We tried doing it last year, but when you’re trying to line up extra games with your schedule and the other team’s schedule and different sheets of ice, it’s kind of hard,” explained Coach Dustin Goutermont, who coaches the team along with Jeff Bright and Gus Engstrom. “But this year we tried to return the favor. They appreciate it a lot because they don’t have a league like we do to play in.”
Goutermont further advised that most games the Thunder Bay Queens play are tournaments or stand-alone competitions rather than full league play. Some of their squads also include both boys and girls because there simply aren’t enough teams to separate divisions.
In addition to the warm welcome, the Storm brought up some flags for a fun photo op, and the opposing coach hosted jersey presentations.
“They made a big deal of it,” said Goutermont. “They were a great host. They were very much appreciated from the coaches to the players, to the refs, and to the parents that were able to come up there. It was a good experience for our girls.”
The Storm opened their first game at the First Nations Arena in Thunder Bay, a matchup that proved to be fast, physical, and full of energy.
“Our girls haven’t been playing in mixed leagues with boys and girls. Maybe it makes them a little more physical, or maybe it’s the way they’re coached because that’s the way hockey’s supposed to be played, but they’re a physical team, and I don’t know if we were ready for it right away,” said Goutermont.
However, the girls soon found their stride.
“We were up for the challenge, and we matched them,” said the coach. “That game ended in a 2-2 tie, so we were happy with that. That was a pretty even game.”
After a lunch break, the Storm regrouped, reenergized, and eager for more.
“They were saying, ‘Why don’t we play more games up here?’ so that was good to hear because it’s a little haul up there,” said Goutermont. “They’re very happy about the game.”
Later that day, the team geared up again, this time at the Civic Center. The rematch was another tight battle. Holding a 1–0 lead late into the third, the Storm capitalized on an empty net when Thunder Bay pulled their goalie, sealing the win.
The girls are already six games into their season and sit at 4-1-1. Last year, they made it to Regionals. This year, the goal is State.
“Last year we fell one game short of making it to state,” recalled Goutermont. “It was a successful season for sure, but we wanted to get that one win at the end of the season to get to state, but it didn’t happen. So now we’re going to go for it again.”
Goutermont has been coaching for 12 years and has guided many of the same players for four or five seasons.
“This group of girls that’s been coming up, they’re all competitive,” he said. “That’s what makes it fun and easy as a coach. When you have practices, and they want to be there, they’re not just getting dropped off for an hour; they want to be there, they want to get better, they want to win. That’s what makes them successful, and it makes it easy for coaches to teach them because you don’t have to try as hard because they want to learn.”
He added that his favorite part of coaching is, “seeing how the girls improve over the year and in different skills and a lot of off-ice skills too. We try to coach being on time, being held accountable, getting good grades in school. That’s our number one.”
Best of luck to the North Shore Storm 12U girls hockey team this season as they chase their goal to be state-bound!
