By Larry Moko
It was a tough pill to swallow for the Bishop Ryan Celtics girls' hockey team.
After going undefeated during the regular season and Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic high school playoffs, the Celtics suffered a one-sided loss in their OFSAA regional qualifier at Dave Andreychuk Mountain Arena Tuesday.
Bishop Ryan fell behind early and dropped the Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference AAA semifinal, 7-0, to Milton's Bishop Reding Royals.
"The first thing I said to the girls in the room was that my heart was broken for them," Celtics coach Paul Altobelli said. "They've worked so hard. To go undefeated all year (9-0-1) and to lose a game like today ... it's hard for them to accept. All they've known is winning."
The Celtics trailed 1-0 and 5-0 at the period breaks.
"They took it to us right from the beginning," Altobelli added. "It's heart-breaking to see the emotion on the kids' faces."
The Halton Catholic champions got three goals by Logan McCreight and two each by Olivia Shamblaw and Jasper Petro.
Elise Gelinas was in goal for the shutout.
"We played our 1-2-2 system," Reding coach Dorian Peca said. "Our big players stepped up and played really well. They chipped in offensively, for sure.
"And our goalie was huge with a shutout. It's hard to beat her low."
Reding's captain, Petro, is a high scoring defenceman at the OWHL U22 level and her second goal against BR came on a rocket shot from the point.
The second goal by Shamblaw was shorthanded when she stole the puck in front of the Celtics net.
According to the Bishop Ryan coach, his team tried to respond in the second period but couldn't catch a break.
"We had a lot of great shots and opportunities," he said. "There was stuff sitting in front of the net waiting to be finished. But for whatever reason, we couldn't put the puck in the net. It wasn't our day."
The Celtics have captured three straight league titles and the only players not expected to return next season are goaltender Kylee Boehmer, Evalina Veysey and captain Maya Valeri.
"Only three people are leaving," Altobelli said. "We have a lot of things going for us. There's a legacy to work towards."
With the win, Reding -- losers of one game during the regular schedule --moves on to play Georgetown in the GHAC final on March 6.
Bishop Ryan lost last year in GHAC playoffs, 1-0, to Georgetown.
Photos by Richard Andoga
More photos on HWCDSB Athletics Facebook page
