OMHA Championship Recap - "The Little Team That Could", News, U13 Rep, U13, 2021-2022 (Arran-Elderslie Minor Hockey)

This Team is part of the 2021-2022 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Apr 11, 2022 | Scott Price | 798 views
OMHA Championship Recap - "The Little Team That Could"
Your U13 Rep IceDogs had earned the right to play in the OMHA Championship in Windsor.  No one could have blamed them if they were just happy to be there after a Game 4 deciding win vs Minto and a WOAA Championship win over BCH.  But this team still had a few surprises left in them.

Game 1 - vs East Lampton - The buzz in the lobby was "who the heck is AEMHA?" and many East Lampton fans had put a tick in the win column when they found out who they were playing.  But teams that underestimate the U13 Rep IceDogs pay for it dearly and they did.  The first goal of the game and tournament went to Jesse P on a nifty backhander after Brayden and Porter cycled the puck around behind the net.  East Lampton tied it up and it was 1-1 at the break.  The IceDogs began to play "IceDog hockey" in the 2nd.  First, Ethan ripped home a breakaway goal to give his team the lead.  Brayden P would work a little spinarama magic behind the net and feed Jesse P for another and it was 3-1 'Dogs now at the 2nd break.  With the East Lampton coach losing his mind, Simon J. would score another for a 4-1 lead.  East Lampton would get one back but the IceDogs were 1-0 to start the tourney!
The East Lampton coaches picked Brayden P as the IceDog MVP.

Game 2 - vs Collingwood - Once again, talk in the lobby from the opposition was that the Blues should have an easy time with this IceDog team.  And once again, the IceDogs had other plans.
Game 2 on the day was predictably scrambly but the relentless checking and tenacity of the IceDogs was still there.  Collingwood would pot the first goal but the IceDogs stormed back with a vengeance with Ethan and Karden ripping home goals for a 2-1 lead at the break.  Ethan would get another for a 3-1 lead (assisted by Simon and Owen M).  Collingwood was coming unglued but somehow scored another late in the period and the IceDogs held a 3-2 lead at the 2nd break.  Ethan would get another (assisted by Waylon) and despite Collingwood getting another, the IceDogs were 2-0 and with a 4-3 win. 
The Collingwood coaches picked Ethan S. as IceDog MVP.

Game 3 - vs Woodville - The IceDogs earned a bye into the quarter finals and had to wait a bit for Game 3.  They drew the Woodville Hurricanes in Game 3.  The IceDogs were chomping at the bit to get going and they came out flying in this one.  First Ethan would bury his own rebound on the first shift of the game and Porter would spring Brayden P. on a breakaway for another and it was 2-0 IceDogs early.  Ethan would score late (assisted by Owen and Karden) and the IceDogs had a 3-0 lead at the break.  But all the teams are here for a reason and Woodville came to play in the 2nd.  Owen M. would get the IceDogs ahead 4-0 (assisted by Ethan and Owen W.) but Woodville potted a couple to make it 4-2 by the end of the 2nd.  Owen M. would patiently wait out the Woodville goalie for 5-2 lead but Woodville came back with a tip in goal to make it 5-3.  Simon would get one of his patented hard working goals to end the scoring and the game and the IceDogs were off to the semi-finals after a 6-3 win.
The Woodville coaches selected Waylon G. as the the IceDog MVP (they recognized the little things that win games too!)

Game 4 (Semi-Final) vs Port Stanley - After a night of fire alarms and flooding at the hotel, the IceDogs had to wake up early for the Semi-Final Game.  Some solid parent pre-game scouting gave the IceDogs the edge early.  This was a classic IceDog game.  Ferocious checking, great puck movement and a relentless skating were all dialled in.  Owen M. would get his team on the board in the 2nd period was a top shelf snipe and the IceDogs were off and running.  Port Stanley was a great team too and they would knot things up at 1 but that's all Aidan S. would give them.  Aidan had been getting better all tournament and was saving the best for last.  Despite not being busy, he was making routine saves and higlight reel ones too!  A nifty play on the blue line by Waylon to put the puck in a good place led to Owen M. working the puck out front where Ethan S. ripped it home for a 2-1 lead.  The IceDogs dialled the checking up to 100 now and Port Stanley never got a sniff (except for a last minute chance that Aidan stopped with a beauty kick save!).  The IceDogs would skate away with a 2-1 win and had booked their ticket to the OMHA Championship Finals!
The IceDogs AND Port Stanley coaches picked Simon J. as the MVP for the IceDogs.

Game 5 - Championship Final vs Collingwood - Collingwood would clearly upset they had lost to the IceDogs in the round robin portion of the tournament and had steam rolled through everyone after that.  The IceDogs were undaunted and with a bit of rest and water, where ready.  With both teams playing tight checking hockey, it was Ethan that broke the ice with a perfectly placed shot and it was 1-0 'Dogs at the first break.  Ethan would get another early in the 2nd and it was 2-0 IceDogs.  The IceDogs were feeling good about themselves and wanted this one so badly.  But Collingwood is a good team and slowly their 3 line attack began to wear the IceDogs down.  A goal late in the 2nd would get them within 1 and they were collecting momentum.  What happened next is hard to put into words.  It wasn't lack of effort, skill or hard work--the IceDogs were running on vapours.  It was Aidan S.'s turn to shine and he made some tremendous saves that will go down in IceDog lore.  But Collingwood would pot a couple of goals late in the game to take the game and the Final 3-2.  
The Collingwood Coaches picked Aidan S. as IceDog MVP.

It was heartbreaking for sure but when the dust settled, the IceDogs were 2nd place for Tier 3 Ontario with a record of 4-1 in the tournament.  Everyone gave their all.  No regrets.  They went into the tournament as the "unknown" team and underestimated by the teams from the city.  When it was all over, everyone knew  who "the Little Team that Could" was and teams we eliminated were amazed at the team play and relentless checking style of the IceDogs.  Several teams we defeated hadn't lost much (if at all) this year and we beat them.  We did it with class and playing hockey the right way.  And they all know where Arran-Elderslie is now.

From the Coach:

I don't have the words to express how proud I am of this group.  They always gave me the best they had.  From tryouts to regular season and finally, to the playoffs.  It was a once in a lifetime team and experience for me and I can only hope that the IceDogs feel the same way.  
Thanks a million IceDogs fans far and wide for the in-rink and social media support.  We have the best fans in the world and we proved that this year too.  
The hardest part might be that I can't walk into that arena tomorrow with this group and coach/play again.  But we will walk in next season with a WOAA banner and OMHA Finalist banner hanging from the rafters and that is something every IceDog can be proud of.