On Tuesday, November 26th the Midget AA Ice Kats hosted the Qiqihar R & DT Women’s Ice Hockey Team from the People’s Republic of China
in a friendly match at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.
The Qiqihar
club team is a feeder team for China’s National Women’s Team, which is
preparing for the 2020 Winter Olympics. Playing
according to International Ice Hockey Rules, the game consisted of a
full on-ice warmup, Opening Ceremonies with Flag bearers, Ceremonial
puck drop, Captain’s gift exchange and national anthems, followed by 3 -
20 minute periods with intermissions.
The PeeWee A Ice Kats were able to participate in this event, joining the Midget AA team for part of the on-ice warmup.
After a flood, the Qiqihar team were escorted onto the ice by Flag bearer Audrey Martone of the Atom Ice Kats, while Flag bearer Kenzie Moore escorted the Midget Ice Kat team.
The official party for the Ceremonial puck drop consisted of Sun Huan Wei (Chairman and founder of the Qiqihar Ice Hockey Association), Stacey Moore (President of the Peterborough Girls Hockey Association), and Judy Ruttle of the Ruttle Group Inc., (representing all sponsors for the Midget AA Ice Kat team).
Ice Kat Assistant Captain Charlotte Porter took the ceremonial face off with Qiqihar player Guan Ying Ying, followed by the Captain’s gift exchange.
After the playing of the national anthems, the teams got down to business and provided the fans with an entertaining and energetic match.
After 60 minutes of play the scoreboard showed Qiqihar posting a 5-1 win. The lone Ice Kat goal was scored by Elyse Ives, assisted by Maddy O’Neill-Hawthorne and Julia Defosse.
Qiqihar goals were scored by Zhang Chi, Ma Rui, Fu Kevin, Guan Ying Ying and Liu Siyang.
After the game, the Qiqihar team and officials joined the Midget Ice Kat team and parents for a buffet dinner in the PMC restaurant before boarding the team bus and heading back to North Toronto. The Qiqhar team will compete in approximately 11 exhibition matches before heading back to the People’s Republic of China in early December.
Assistant Coaches Paul Flint and Jacquelyn Ruttle and Trainer Liz Semlitch were on the bench supporting Head Coach Dave Roche. The Midget AA Ice Kat players included Bella Smolen and Maddy Roche in net, forwards Ava Flint, Amanda Willis, Maddy O’Neill-Hawthorne, Charlotte Porter, Elyse Ives, Avery Johnson (injured), Taylor Richmond, Talia Flint and Ava Smith, and defenders Hannah Healey, Alana Jentas, Ryan Rupnow, Taylor McArthur, Julia Defosse and Hannah Kawalec. Midget A players Grace Dunn, Sarah Ludgate and Olivia Gosselin also played in this game.
Coach Dave Roche, who was instrumental in arranging this game, was elated with how the night went, knowing that the players will some day look back at their hockey careers and consider this event a highlight of their hockey experience.
The OWHA, PGHA, Freedom 55 Financial, Kawartha Dairy and PepsiCo were game sponsors.
Ceremonial Puck Drop
L-R Qiqhar Captain #26 Quan Ying Ying, Ice Kat Team Sponsor Judy Ruttle, PGHA President Stacey Moore, Qiqihar Founder Sun Huan Wei, Ice Kat Asst. Captain #8 Charlotte Porter
Combined Post-game picture