Dec 31, 2022 | Greg Price | 285 views
SILVER STICK CHAMPS
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Once again this team has risen above the rest. The U13 REP Ice Dogs entered the Kincardine Regional Silver Stick with 16 of the top C/D division teams from the region. We were definitely going to be facing our toughest competition of the season, game in and game out for as long as we were in the tournament. First up was a tight checking Blyth Brussels team. We came out of the gate with what I called Turkey dinner legs (we also had 3 kids not feeling there greatest), and Blyth were winning all the races and battles for the puck. We struck first with Aden M putting pressure on the BB defenseman, and there D fired it into the slot were Jesse P picked it off and fed Porter B for a rocket to the back of the net. Blyth struck back with one late in the first to tie it up after one. Blyth then scored a fluky one to go up 2-1 early in the second. Then we sent out the top scoring line in WOAA and Aden M fed Jesse P in the slot and it was all tied up 2-2. But this Blyth team came to play and after good work down low and a pass to the point for a one timer and it was 3-2 BB after 2. The coaches settled the boys down in the on ice intermission and we headed into the third and vowed to be the harder working team. Well I don't think BB had two shots on net in the third and we must have hit three goal posts and 17 shin pads in the third, but we could not get the puck over the goal line. That was it our first loss of the season. Porter B was selected as the player of the game.
Next up was a very tough opponent in the South Grey Spartans. A loss and we were pretty much done. This team has the top sniper in the GBMHL league and are very well coached. They play the 'right way' as well as us and this was going to be a beauty( it did not disappoint). Both teams had some great chances but both goalies were equal to the task. 0-0 after the first. Then midway through the second and Jesse P broke free after passes from Porter B and Landon S and fired a rocket to the top shelf and 1-0 Ice Dogs. Then Big Landry W got his first of the tournament after Aden M fed Jesse P and he slid it out front for Landry to find the short side. 2-0 Ice Dogs after the second. But these Spartans dont quite and the Ice Dogs let off just enough to give them an chance, and there go to sniper made it 2-1 after some hard work. Then not too long after he broke free again and sprinted down the left side and and fired one into the back of the net to tie it up with about 10 mins left in the third. But the Ice Dogs regrouped and poured the pressure back on. Then with about 5 minutes left in the third Owen W fed Jesse P who walked through the neutral zone over the line fed big Landry W he went top cheddar for a 3-2 lead. Our defense stepped up big time after this and stopped the Spartans at every chance. Big win as this win allowed us to have a chance to continue. Landry W taking player of the Game honors.
Our third game of the Round Robin was against the Wingham Ironman. This also was a must win and the more goals we won by the better. We came out flying and first goal had the top line go to work with Aden M getting two quick ones to put us up 2-0. Then Landon S whos slapshot is becoming a boomer from the point let one fly and top shelf 3-0 after one. They scored a hardworking goal as we let off again to start the second, but Porter B from Jesse P and Waylon G fired another wrist shot rocket ala Wendell Clark and it was 4-1. Then Aden M and Carter M completed the thorough 6-1 win. This punched us through in first place and pit us against the Georgian Shores Lightning in the Quarter Finals. Aden M was game MVP.
We came out flying and were all over them. This is the game #25 Porter B took his game to another level and absolutely dominated the boards and used his speed to go wide at every chance. He sniped two beauties to send us to a 2-0 lead after one. Then Carter M got one of his patented crease bangers and 3-0 early in the second. they got one back to end the second 3-1. Then AP call up Payson H used a perfect chip pass off the boards that broke Carter M for a very nice breakaway goal. Then the comeback started from Georgian Shores. 4-2, then Jesse P took a hard wrist shot to the back of the neck and he was down and out for a while and the Lightning took advantage. two more goals 2 minutes apart and the game was all tied up. With about 2:30 left in the game Jesse P was sent out for a final shift and he took a perfect chip pass from Carter M at our blueline and he was mad and took it out on there defenseman and blew by him and leaned into the hardest shot he has ever taken and top shelf 5-4 us. Porter B ended it with an empty netter to complete his hat trick and MVP honors for the game.
Onto Walkerton a top team from the top WOAA division, This one was going to be a battle. But these Ice Dogs found a whole other level in this game and other then maybe 2 mintues of the game we dominated. Jesse P with 2 and Landry W and Owen W rounded out the scoring. Aiden S with an absolute beauty game stopped all the shots for the shutout and MVP honours. Onto the Championship game against the West Grey Warriors.
This was also against a top team from the top WOAA division and combined with some top Hanover kids we were in tough. But once again our kids rose to the challenge and outworked,out hustled a very hardworking team. We proved there equal and then some in the speed department. It was banged up Jesse P flying down the wing and feeding newly anointed winger Carter M in the slot for a one timer and 1-0. The Warriors came back with a fluky goal to tie it up, but Bronson B fired a laser to the back of the net and Aden M fired a high one that eluded the Warrior goalie and 3-1 after one. They came back with a very nice goal to make it 3-2 early in the second. But Aden M with about 5 wakes at it and never gave up in front, banged home the eventual game winner and 4-2 us after 2. The third we just told the boys to keep the pressure on but asked the centers Conner B and Jesse P to just hang high. Worked to perfection until they scored with 15 seconds left to make it interesting. But we held the fort as is usual with this group. 4-3 and the Regional Championship was ours. The Coaching Staff of Nathan M, Tina B, Brent W, Rob C and myself could not be more proud of this group. Carter M was chosen as player of the game. Jesse P, Porter B, Aden M, Conner B, Carter M, Landry W all played great up front and backchecked very well. Our defense of Waylon G, Owen W, Quinn C, Landon S and Bronson B started the tournament a little slow out of the gate but the last two games against some top competition they were absolutely rock solid and did not give up ever on a play. Adan S was rock solid between the pipes and whenever the game was close locked it down for us. Also a shout out to the AP players (Will Hampton and Payson Hamel) that helped win this championship. Well Done and onto Forest for the International C division Championships against all of the top teams. Should be great.