Bantam LL3 Win Tillsonburg Tournament, News, Bantam LL3, U15, 2012-2013 (New Hamburg Hockey Association)

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Mar 24, 2013 | Albert Ross | 894 views
Bantam LL3 Win Tillsonburg Tournament
The Delivery Guys Husky Bantam LL3 took a short break from play-downs to take in the Max Partlo Memorial Tournament in Tillsonburg on March 22 – 24. The Dogs were one of ten teams divided into two pools competing for the top prize. Friday evening saw the Pack face off against the Sturgeon Lake Thunder in a tough, physical game. 

The Huskies led the contest up to the halfway point, accruing 2 goals before the opposition answered. Colin Shannon tallied on a screened shot with Trevor Brubacher assisting while Cam Gingerich doubled up on a wrap-around with Shannon getting the helper. The Thunder pressed hard on the power-play in the third but couldn’t defeat net-minder Liam Saunders who secured the 2 – 1 win in the first round-robin game. Connor Ross and Colin Shannon pocketed the player-of-the-game award for their solid work on the blue-line throughout the match. Saturday morning saw the Huskies going toe-to-toe with the Aylmer Flames. It was Ross paving the way for his team again by securing a hat trick in the first period. Gingerich assisted on the first point shot while Kolton Wagler and Matt Elliot got in on the second. The third was an unassisted rocket that left the opposition reeling. The Flames bounced back in the second getting a late goal before the Huskies recovered in the third. Ross was the set-up man on a power-play goal by Elliot with other Huskies following with chances. The Flames once again answered but Elliot doused their hopes with a final unassisted point in a turnover and picked up the player of the game award in the process. The 5 – 2 win positioned the Dogs in the driver’s seat going into their third match-up that same afternoon. They would have to dig a little deeper to find victory as teammate Justin Arnott was sidelined with a minor injury in the contest. It was the hometown favourites, the Tillsonburg Tornadoes LL2 that the Huskies did battle with and once again, the Pack came out strong in the first frame. Jake Snider played set-up man for Gingrich’s backhand that opened the scoring and set the tone for the game. Wagler doubled the tally early in the second from the slot with Elliot and Kale Meyer riding shotgun. Gingerich followed with another upstairs shot with Brubacher and Ross assisting. The Tornadoes were in full flight and suffered another goal against before the period ended. Meyer ripped one in from the slot getting help from Elliot. The Huskies were firing on all cylinders, totally shutting down the Tornadoes as they forced the defensive zone. Colton Hussey led the physical breakout charge with teammates Shannon, Ross and Tyler Szanto all playing with grit and determination. The finisher came late in the third when Brubacher tipped in a bullet from Snider with Szanto helping. It was a stunning 5 – 0 shutout win for Saunders who was solid in net all game while Hussey and Gingerich shared the player-of-the-game recognition. The 3-win record solidified the Huskies as the top team in their pool, assuring them a slot in the A-pool finals set to go Sunday afternoon against the Welland White Power. As expected, their opponent was a tough customer and registered the first goal halfway through the first period. The Huskies answered when Cam Gingerich drilled one in from the hash marks getting help from Elliot and Brubacher. The game remained tied in the second as both teams sparred in the neutral zone, trying to find advantage. The Huskies found another gear in the third with Wagler coming close on cross-crease pass. The rattled Welland team incurred a minor penalty that opened the door for the Pack. Ross blasted one from the point that Elliot tipped to Brubacher who shoveled it in to take the lead on the power-play. The opposition wasted no time in coming back, succeeding on a determined drive to the net to re-establish the deadlock. With time growing short, Gingerich once again found the back o the net on a screened shot that Brubacher and Ross set up. The opposition discipline broke down and the Dogs kept the puck deep on successive power-plays before they mounted a last ditch effort. With their goalie pulled, Welland got an excellent chance that Saunders spectacularly denied to seal the 3 – 2 victory and the Championship title. It was a tremendous effort that saw Gingerich and Saunders split the player-of-the-game accolades but the entire team deserves recognition for a series that saw them sweep 4 games straight in some of the best hockey they’ve played to date. Congratulations Huskies!