Maya Valeri knows what it takes to be a champion.
On Wednesday, for the third consecutive year, she helped the Bishop Ryan Celtics capture a Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic girls' high school hockey title.
The first-place Celtics (7-0-1) topped the second-place St. More Knights (6-1-1) by a score of 4-2 at Dave Andreychuk Mountain Arena.
A left winger and BR's captain, Valeri was the last player off the ice after presentation ceremonies and carried the league trophy to the dressing room.
"Yes, we have skill and a lot of talent," Valeri said. "But something that can't be taught that we have is positivity and a hard-work ethic.
"We constantly work hard. That's how we end up on top even as underdogs."
With the win, Bishop Ryan qualifies for a Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference semifinal on March 4 against the Halton Catholic winner.
The Celtics trailed 1-0 on a goal by More centre Sadie D'Angela.
But Valeri then struck for her first of two goals, converting a crossing pass on the rush by Aly Pescetti.
Valeri, who also plays U22 junior hockey for a London rep team, led the Celtics in goal scoring this season with 15.
Julia Sayej then scored before the end of the first period and Pescetti added a shorthanded marker in the second.
The teams traded goals in the third -- Valeri on a quick backhander while coming from the corner and Kennedy Sundvall, who swatted in a rebound with 11 minutes remaining.
"I'm ecstatic," Celtics coach Paul Altobelli said. "More is a dynamic team. We didn't take them lightly. They're well coached and have a lot of great athletes.
"We tied them the first time, 1-1, and won the second one, 2-1, by scoring with four or five seconds left."
Both coaches agreed Kylee Boehmer was outstanding in goal for the Celtics, key to the outcome.
"I think the save she made with the score, 1-1, was a major turning point," Altobelli said. "I think it shocked them a bit and we went right down the ice and scored."
Said Knights coach Trevor Young: That save (and quick goal at the other end) turned the tide of the game at that point.
"They played well."
Young pointed out that the Knights were somewhat "handcuffed" because two members of their top scoring line were affected by illness. One didn't attend while the other made a decision to dress 10 minutes before the opening faceoff.
"It put weight on Sadie's shoulders," Young said.
D'Angela still managed to impress, however. She had numerous scoring opportunities.
"That girl was everywhere," Altobelli said. "She was the most dangerous player out there. I commend her for her effort. She's a great competitor."
Three championships in a row had never been done before by a BR hockey team in the school's nearly 70 years of existence, Altobelli said.
"We just wrote a new chapter in the history books that girls' hockey has been able to accomplish," he said.
In recent semifinal action, More advanced with a 4-2 decision over the Bishop Tonnos Titans, while BR needed a goal in double overtime by defenceman Sofia Van Dalen to edge the St. John Henry Newman Cardinals, 2-1.
Other players on BR's roster this season include Ariana Cannon, Cali Richmond, Evalina Veysey, Alexa Carviel Walsh, Alyssa Hargot, Danika Burchell, Taelyn Bell, Mary Monaghan, Lily Strecker, Emma Cloutier, Emily Polak, Jada Perger, Myley Vidal, Madi Rilett and Lilly Polak.
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