March 23, 2005

Cherry Chill meets goals

Women's hockey tournament held at Centre ICE

By
Herald staff writer

      After lacing up their skates, strapping on their pads and adjusting their jerseys, women from across the state took to the ice for the Cherry Chill Women's Invitational Hockey Tournament held at Centre ICE last weekend.
      Traverse City Mayor Linda Smyka was on hand to drop the ceremonial first puck before a rousing crowd who came to cheer on the 22 teams made up of women in three age groups - senior, under 19 and under 16.
      "This is the first time in more than 10 years that we have had a women's tournament here in Traverse City," said Marlene Beinkowski, a member of the Cherrywood Chiefs senior team and tournament organizer.
      "We have so much fun when we go to other tournaments, we decided it was time to have one here in Traverse City, and to include the younger girls teams as well," said Beinkowski who has been playing the game since 1992.
      Lori Dubro, a relative newcomer to the sport, not only enjoys the camaraderie she shares with fellow teammates, including Beinkowski, but the feeling she gets playing the game.
      "You don't have to be a girl on the ice, you just get out there and have fun. That is what this whole tournament is about," Dubro said.
      Dubro was only slightly disappointed that her team didn't make it to the division finals. Mt. Pleasant Chill defeated West Michigan Blizzard 5-1 to take the title.
      Win or loose, the Cherry Chill marked the end of the season for most of the teams.
      "I'm sad, not sad that we lost, just sad that the season is over," said 17-year-old Sarah Pope of St. Ignace whose team, the Mackinaw City Gators, lost in the final round 2-1 to the Cheboygan Chiefs.
      "We just have so much fun playing together," said Pope who played her last game as a Gator as she will be starting college in the fall.
      The Traverse City Northstars U-16 team pulled off a 4-0 shut out win over their arch rival Cheboygan to win their division title.
      "It was such a great game. It's the first time they have been able to beat them all season," said Suzy Cline, mother of Northstar player Becca Cline.
      After the Zamboni made its last run of the weekend, the women involved in the tournament gave the weekend a big thumbs up.
      "It was such a great finish. I hope to do it all again next year," Beinkowski said.