Jun 03, 2012 | pverbeek | 1099 views
Tournament Summary
The boys had an excellent tournament and ended up being the A finalists. It has been great seeing all the improvement in their play at both ends of the floor.
Game summaries are as follows.......
Game #1 vs Kitchener Waterloo #2 Braves
Had a slow start and fell behind 1-0 half way through the first but Greg Reidy managed to score a shorthanded goal close to the end of the period to tie the game. Jordan Deelstra gave us the lead 11 seconds into a powerplay early in the second. Two more shorthanded goals before the end of the period by Jordan Alexander (assisted by Keegan Long) and Nich Verbeek gave us a 4-1 lead heading into the final frame. KW scored early in the 3rd but a couple minutes later Nich restored the 3 goal lead. KW scored 2 more goals but could not get the equalizer in the final couple minutes as our defense and goalie (Keegan) closed the door.
Game #2 vs Arthur Aces
Down to 9 runners for this game with Caleb and Spencer away for previous commitments, we saw our team get off to another slow start and fall behind 2 goals by the end of the first. Brett Reesor got us on the board a few minutes into the 2nd (assisted by Nich and Jordan A) but Arthur would soon restore there 2 goals lead shortly thereafter. Curtis Schaidle got us back within one with 16 seconds left in the period. The boys were quite tired at this point and 12 seconds into the 3rd Arthur would score again. Jordan D would get us back within one with a hard shot from the top of the house. Arthur would score again to restore the 2 goal lead with 8:30 to go in the game but the boys would not give up with Nich scoring on a breakaway to get back within one. Even a penalty with 4:40 to go would not deter these boys from getting that trip to the finals. Just before the penalty expired, Jordan fired another rocket to the top corner for another shorthanded goal to tie the game. Then just 30 seconds later Brett would give us our first lead (assisted by Nich and Keegan). The team would close out the rest of the way with some great stops by Jordan A who was playing net this game. Off to the final we would go.
Game #3 "A" Final vs Oakville #2 Hawks
After the coaching staff watched the Hawks beat Six Nations #3 14-1 and outshoot them about 50-2 we knew we would have our hands full in the final. Some good news was that Caleb and Spencer were able to make it back for the final game. After a good first 10 minutes to this game, a few breakdowns in the last few minutes of the period saw us down 4-0 after the first. The second started the way the first ended and half way through the second we were down 6-0. if it was not for the fantastic play by Cullen in net the score would have been a lot worse as he made many terrific saves. The boys started playing better in the last 5 minutes of the second and we started generating some scoring opportunities and eliminating some of theirs. Oakville would go ahead 7-0 early in the third before Jordan D would fire one home (assisted by Cullen) with 8:30 to play. The game was back and forth the rest of the way but neither team would be able to beat wither goalie and the final was 7-1 for Oakville.
A great all around tournament with some terrific play from all players. Although they did not lake the scoresheet we saw some terrific two-way play from Caleb, Spencer, Ethan Vollmer and Dustin Poirier. We did miss Austyn Whitehead, our tower on defense, who was out for the tournament with a foot injury.
Note: Busy week ahead with a game Tuesday in Howick at 8, practice Wednesday at 6 in Howick and a game at 7 Thursday in Cambridge.
See you all there.
The coaches