John Bear Bantam AE Huskies
win Regional Silver Stick Nov 15-27 2011
John Bear Bantam AE Huskies
win Regional Silver Stick Nov 15-27 2011
The John Bear Bantam AE Huskies can rightfully boast after this weekends events in Collingwood. After 5 hard fought games, the dogs secured the Championship crown at the Regional Silver Stick tournament that got under way of Friday November 25 and ended on Sunday. The Pack faced the Dorchester Dragons for game 1 of the round-robin series and had their hands full with this tough resilient team. Alex Normandeau broke it open in the second frame when his point shot connected in a power-play effort. Brady Finn upped the ante as the period bled away, getting help from Connor Ross. The lone Dragon point came mid-way through the third before the Husky defense solidified. Tanner Green was solid between the pipes throughout the match and delivered the 2 – 1 win for his team, garnering player-of-the-game for his efforts. The Dogs would have to face their next opponent without Marcus Roth who injured his arm in the tough play. Game 2 went that afternoon against the Midland Centennials in what became a game of frustration for the Dogs. Out-shooting, out-skating, and out-checking cannot replace out-scoring. Connor Popham, who displayed gritty play throughout, was awarded player of the game in which the Dogs were bested 2 – 0. The Pack next faced the hometown Collingwood Blackhawks in the final round-robin game early Saturday afternoon. The Dogs had plenty of jump and the efforts paid off as the second period wound down. Nolan Forster won the draw and his feed to Filip Telescu resulted in the first goal on a short-handed effort. Forster would bag his own marker late in the third getting help from Ross and Telescu. Green, was once again stellar in net and secured the 2 – 0 shutout while Telescu collected the player-of-the-game recognition. The Husky point total meant they would face off against the Dragons late that same afternoon for the semi-final match. As expected, the Dragons played to win but the Dogs gave better than they got. Austin Dale opened the scoring late in the first frame on a short-handed drive getting help from Ross. The Huskies remained dangerous throughout the second frame but couldn’t move the needle until the third. Forster found the sweet spot unassisted at the half followed by another late in the frame. The Dragons pulled their goalie in a last gambit and Forster potted the empty-netter getting help from Telescu and Jayden Marion. The final marker came with less than a minute remaining when Dale scored with Ross riding shotgun again. The 4 – 0 shutout was a testament to Matt Santos’ solid play between the pipes while Dale was given player-of-the-game accolades. The win propelled the Huskies into the finals set to go at noon on Sunday against the Midland Centennials. The Dogs were hard on the puck from the start and the efforts were rewarded early when Forster made good on a feed from Ross to get that all-important first goal. The second marker came late in the frame when Dale made the most of a scrum in front of the Centennial net. Brady Finn and Taylor Von Hausen collect the assists on the play. The second frame was a battleground in which both sides incurred penalties and traded scoring chances. Santos was once again tested and found to be rock solid gaining the player-of-the-game. The grinders and diggers were taking a toll on the increasingly frustrated opposition. Matt Schmidt and Danny Martin were getting the job done up front while Josh Jewitt, Robbie Mason, Mike Glauser and Marion were making life hard on the attackers. The desperation was fever-pitch in the third with the final chapter being written when the Centennials pulled their goalie to get a man advantage. It didn’t matter. The Huskies secured the 2 – 0 win and the Regional Silver Stick Championship title. Congratulations to both teams for an exciting series and good luck to the Huskies as they prepare for the Internationals set to go in January.