Nov 14, 2022 | Greg Price | 318 views
U13 REP ICEDOGS WIN GEORGIAN SHORES TOURNAMENT
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This team is unbelievable. When I signed this team up for this tournament, I was thinking let's play some higher centers and see how and where we need to get to compete at the top level. Well, this team is up for any challenge, and they proved it this weekend going up against B/C center teams.
First game up was against an unknown opponent in the Shelburne Huskies. The Ice dogs came out flying in this one, and Jesse P ripping home a shot on the second shift of the game on a nice pass from Porter B. Then it was Carter M and Conner B getting in on the action with passes from linemate Landry W. Jesse's line went back to work the rest of the way and we skated away with a 9-2 opening game win on Friday night.
Second game Saturday morning was against another small-town team in our own division the TDCMHA Rebels. With kids on both sides friends at school this one was going to be exciting for sure. The Rebels definitely came ready to play and were holding most of the play in the first period, but Ice Dog super sniper Aden M found himself alone in front and buried it top cheddar after Porter B and Jesse P worked the boards and found him in front. The Rebels came right back to tie it up. The second period we started to finally find some of our normal Ice Dog game and Jesse P found himself alone for a 2-1 lead heading onto the third. Porter B then stripped a Rebel defender of the puck at their blueline, drove to the net and ripped home a wrist shot for a 3-1 lead. But these Rebels are well coached and never quit. They stormed back with two absolute no quit goals to tie it up late and that was it. 3-3 tie. The Ice Dogs were not happy with their complete and compete effort in this one.
Third game was against Wallaceburg. The Ice Dogs decided to take their frustration out in this one and came out flying. Hat tricks went to Aden M and Jesse P. And Carter M with 2 and Landry W with the final one for a very good 9-2 win and a spot in the semifinals against the Clearview Canuks Sunday.
This Game was epic with awesome goaltending and defensive play and both sides. The Canuks are a very disciplined team and have been the only team so far that have matched our speed and were quicker to the puck for the first two periods. The Ice Dogs were battling hard and trying to keep the Canuks to the outside, but they sprung for one goal in each of the first two periods for a 2-0 lead heading into the third. I leaned over to Coach Nathan and said let's try a new look up front to try something different as the offence was not clicking. It worked and after a stop by rock solid defenseman Quinn C and then a chip pass off the boards from Carter M, Jesse P and Aden M were away on a 2 on 1. Jesse P faked like he was going to shoot, the defenseman bit, and he slipped a pass over to Aden M and he went short side and the Ice Dogs had life with 10 minutes left. The ice was definitely tilted in our Favour in the third and we kept coming at them with relentless pressure and our defense stopped them at our blueline or kept them away from our No-Go zone. Their goalie was equal to the task and easily the best goalie we have seen this year. With about 1:30 left and a Clearview timeout with a faceoff in their end. We pulled our little spark plug goalie Aiden S and sent out a double stack forward unit and told them no goaltending, go for the goal. After a great keep from Quinn C at the blueline and a dump behind their net Jesse P circled behind and stripped a Canuck defender and sauced a pass out to Carter M who ripped it home for a 2-2 tie with 59 seconds left. Our bench and the Ice Dog fans went wild. On to 3 on 3 5 minute sudden death OT. I talked to the players and said we were going to shorten the bench, and each player unselfishly agreed (this team is awesome). This was back and forth hockey with each team having solid chances but each goalie was in the zone. The Aiden S came up with the game saving save of saves as he slid across ala Dominek Hasek and threw out his blocker for an epic save as we were just hanging on. OT over and a shoot-out to finish it. We sent sniper Aden Mfirst to get us started and he ripped one blocker side for a 1-0 lead. This is were Aiden S took over and said no one is scoring and he absolutely locked it down with three beauty saves on three shoot out chances for the win and a shot at the Championship.
Game 5 Championship game against an old foe from last year's OMHA Championship quarter finals, the Woodville Hurricanes. This team was big, mean, and good. We knew we were in for a fight, and the Woodville team took some penalties early and don't let these Ice Dogs have a chance. Porter B dug out a loose puck to Jesse P who fired a rocket pass over to Aden M. He went top corner glove side for a 1-0 lead. I don't think Woodville was used to this kind of pressure and we were not letting them get anything to the net early. They kept taking penalties and we struck again, with Porter B feeding Aden M for a breakaway, and this kid does not miss, and it was 2-0. The Woodville team was coming unglued, and we just kept up our relentless checking, BUT then we started to retaliate on a couple plays and this team is very good for a reason, and they capitalized on their power play, and it was 2-1. But a lot of these Ice Dogs gained in valuable lessons last year in our march to OMHA finals and know how to lock it down. And after some hard work behind the net by Porter B and Jesse P gaining some good body position in front. Porter fed Jesse in tight for a 3-1 lead. The Hurricanes scored with 9 seconds left to make it interesting but that was it and a very solid 3-2 win and another tournament Championship. Our defense in this game was outstanding as this Woodville team is very good. Aiden S was once again rock solid and stopped all the tough shots.
All the coaches/parents and fans of this little U13 team are very very proud, and they supplied some very entertaining games against some tough competition. Well done and you definitely earned this week off.