Page 17 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 88

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #88 March 2020 17

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Cornwall Typhoons Atom Grey Win Purple

Ribbon at the Do it For Daron Tournament

By Molly Kett “We were up by a point most gold,” says Allaire. “We finished (and some tears) to go out and
of the game, and then Nepean the regular season in second win the game,” says Allaire. “It
scored in the 3rd. We scored place and are currently in the shows just how much they have
ecently, the Cornwall
minutes later to take the lead playoffs.” developed over the season - a
RTyphoons Atom Grey again, and with just a few
house league team participated The win and the purple ribbon group of girls who didn’t know
minutes left in the game, Nepean each other, to a group of girls
in the Do it For Daron (DIFD) scored a great goal against us to mean a lot to the team.
Tournament in Ottawa and the “For our girls, it represents who are always there for each
tie the score,” says Allaire. “We other, on and off the ice.”
team took home the gold in the went into sudden death overtime hard work, communication, and
form of a purple ribbon. dedication. They have learned to Allaire says that Head Coach
for five minutes, with no goal
For those who may not know, on either side. When the girls rely on each other on the ice, to Scott Groves could not be there

the DIFD Tournament is about figured out that we were going trust each other as teammates. for the whole tournament, but
inspiring conversations, raising to a shoot-out, the shooters got When it came down to overtime he sent the team the following
awareness, and transforming very nervous and shed some and a shoot out in the gold medal message after the win: “I could
youth mental health. On tears, but they rallied. We only game, our girls had to fight not be more proud of all you
November 13, 2010, 14-year- had to go to two shooters, as through exhaustion and nerves girls! Great job, you earned it.”
old Daron Richardson died both of our girls scored great
by suicide. Daron was a local goals, and our goalie refused
Bantam AA player at the time to let anything by her. The best
of her death. From this tragedy moment was waiting for the
came a movement - DIFD girls to realize that they had just
encourages young people to talk won! When the coaches told
openly about mental illness and them, it was sheer joy and pride

to ask for help when needed. The on the girls’ faces. One player
purple DIFD heart, a creation was sobbing in the change room
inspired by Daron’s favourite afterward because she was so
colour, has become the youth- happy.”
driven symbol of this movement.
Up until this point, the team
During the tournament, the had been working really well
girls lost their first round robin together throughout the season,
Photo Submitted
game. “Instead of being defeated, so it was no surprise they
they went back to the change managed to pull of the win.
room, listened to the coaches, “Our season has been lots of
brushed off the loss, and came fun as the girls have developed
out harder and stronger than some great friendships and
they had ever played. With each bonds. We have attended
game they played that weekend, three tournaments: our home
the parents saw them play better tournament where we made it to
and better. They refused to let the quarter finals, the Kingston
a loss define them,” says Tanya Ice Wolves tournament where
Allaire.
we made it to the semi-finals, and
According to Allaire, the entire the Do It for Daron tournament
winning game was intense. where we came away with
Photo Submitted