For the first time in more than four decades, Nova Scotia has brought home a hockey medal from the Canada Games.

Team Nova Scotia’s Cinderella story came to an end on Sunday in Summerside, PEI as the women’s provincial squad fell 3-0 to a talented Team British Columbia side in the gold medal game. But there was a silver lining for the team who won Nova Scotia’s first-ever medal in women’s hockey since the sport was introduced in 1991.

“It’s very special,” said a smiling Kori Cheverie, the team’s head coach, as she arrived back with the team in Nova Scotia on Monday

Before this year’s silver medal, Nova Scotia’s best previous finish at the Canada Games was 2003 in Bathurst, N.B. when the province placed fifth. Cheverie was a member of that team.

“Being in their shoes twenty years ago, we didn’t make the semifinal based on a tiebreaker and so to be able to come back and almost relive that moment and be successful in that moment was very special for our group and our coaching staff,” Cheverie said.

After going 2-1 through the preliminary round for the first time at the Canada Games in a four-team pool, Nova Scotia defeated Saskatchewan in a come-from-behind 3-2 overtime thriller in the quarterfinals.

That set the stage for a semifinal showdown with powerhouse Team Ontario. Relying on a strong defensive structure and stellar goaltending from netminder Rhyah Stewart who turned in a 49-save performance, Nova Scotia got goals from captain Samantha Morrison, Jessica McKinnon and Rachel Walsh en route to another comeback 3-2 victory.

“We knew we were not going to be able to compete with skill alone against teams like Ontario and Saskatchewan and BC,” Cheverie said.

“We had to figure out as a group a way to win games and that’s what we focussed on. It was about the collective. There were no individuals on our team and they came together at the right time.”

Just over 12 hours after defeating Ontario in the semifinal, Nova Scotia faced British Columbia for gold. Despite putting up plenty of fight once again, Nova Scotia settled for silver as they fell 3-0.

It was the province’s first hockey medal since 1979 when then men’s team captured a second consecutive silver medal.

“We said from Day 1 that we had the most heart in the tournament and I think we rode that throughout [the Canada Games],” Cheverie said.

The team was the talk of the tournament, garnering attention and well-wishes from those in the hockey community across the continent.

“The support we received from all over North America was crazy to see, but amazing at the same time,” Cheverie said.

On behalf of all of us at Hockey Nova Scotia, congratulations to the entire team and staff. You made us all very proud.