Sarah Backstrom Girls' and Women's Tournament (Erie, PA)
January 31-February 2, 2003
The Lady Thrashers placed fourth out of five teams at the Sarah Backstrom Girls' and Women's Tournament.

Record: 1-3 (4 games in 19 hours!)
Game 1 vs. Chesapeake Bay Lightning: 1-2 L
Game 2 vs. Syracuse Warriors: 0-3 L
Game 3 vs. Pittsburgh Central Reunion: 2-1 W
Game 4 vs. O'Leary Hawks (Michigan): 0-8 L
On-Ice Highlights:
  • Shelley's deke around the Chesapeake goalie to score our only goal in Game 1.
  • Sally standing on her head to keep us in every game.
  • Christina's redirection goal of Sweeney and Shelley's set up passes.
  • Mac's end-to-end rush that resulted in the game winning goal in Game 3.
  • The third line (Laura, Mary, Susan) stepping it up for the entire tournament.
  • Holding the Michigan team to 1 goal at the end of the 1st period, including killing a penalty off. Michigan had beaten previous opponents 6-0 and 12-0.
  • Jet's physical play in the corners - with NO penalties!

    Oddest rink to play in:
    Igloo - You had to step UP to get onto the ice. This included the visitor's bench, affectionately dubbed "the dugout". Also, you had to rent special pucks that didn't mark up the boards. If you lost one, then you didn't get your $5 deposit back.

    Off-Ice Highlights:
  • Watching the Harvard/Mercyhurst women's hockey game on Sunday. 3 olympians and a nun with a cowbell!
  • Sweeney's "towel cake" (photos forthcoming)

    Overkill Award:
    The Erie, PA airport security, who confiscated Sally's disposable camera after she captured a tiny corner of the screening area while taking a picture of Debbie, Ann and Mike. Somewhere the bad guys are scrapping their evil plans now that they can't get their hands on that crucial photo.

    Starbucks Visit? Yes

    Quote of the Tournament: "Let's go red!" - Lady Thrasher cheer during the Chesapeake game. Unfortunately, we were wearing our home white jerseys that game.

    Special thanks to Jeff Dinkel, Ashley's dad, who helped out with everything this weekend, including filling water bottles, opening penalty box doors, opening doors on the bench and safeguarding non-marking pucks.