The
Midget Husky LL2’s braved the winter elements on Saturday December 14 to compete
in the Max Partlo Memorial Tournament in Tillsonburg. The Huskies were one of
eight teams looking for the top prize in the one-day, 3-game venue and were
slated to go up against the Port Dover Pirates that morning.
The team came out flying and registered three unanswered goals in the first frame. Owen Houle got the opener with Cam Gingerich and Damian Naylor assisting. Eric Noseworthy doubled the tally with Connor Ross and Mackenzie Ryckmann helping. Tyler Griffith pounded in the third marker with Gingerich and Sean Boake riding shotgun. The Pirates fought back early in the second making the most of a power play but it was their last gasp. The Dogs were relentless, tallying two more. Ross drilled one in when Canden Addley fed him a face-off draw. Addley followed up with his own point getting help from Houle and Gingerich. The punishment continued in the third when their opponents were made to suffer 3 more goals against. Andrew Just popped one in with Griffith and Ryckmann assisting followed by Brandon Tracey’s shot that Naylor set up. The finisher came from Addley with Noseworthy and Just grabbing the helpers. This was a stunning 8 – 1 win in which team play set a new standard for the Huskies that they hoped to carry forward into the early afternoon match against the Paris Wolf Pack. Once again the Dogs were hungry coming out of the gate and had their first point with less than a minute gone. Tracey’s dash to the net and upstairs backhand opened the scoring for the Pack. Glofcheskie followed the example with teammates Gingerich and Ross grabbing assisting credits on the play. Things looked good for the Huskies going into the second but the Wolf Pack fought back using tough physical play that saw both teams parade to the penalty box. Their efforts were rewarded and the Husky lead was cut to one going into the third. Things got worse for the Dogs as the opposition tied the contest early in the frame and followed up with two more leaving the Huskies stunned. With time now the enemy, Just made the most of a power- play with Griffith helping out but it was too little, too late. Paris accrued an insurance marker leaving the Dogs with a 5 – 3 loss and recognition that this was one that got away on them. Eliminated from the A-pool final, the Huskies would face the Dorchester Dragons for the A-pool consolation round later that afternoon. Chris Thrush was backstopping in net and was called upon early to defend his turf. With the glove hand working well, his team took the play into the offensive zone. The opener came late in the first when Just’s shot bobbled in over the Dragon net-minder and trickled in. It was trench warfare in the second with defense playing a key roll. Colton Hussey and Boake were working hard on the back end taking and receiving big hits. Chances by Naylor, Gingerich and Addley nearly advanced the Husky total but it was still a one-goal game when the third period began. That changed in the first 30 seconds when Hussey broke it out to Griffith who in turn fed Just. Just fired it through the crease and a deflection did the rest. The Dogs were holding their ground against the Dragons but the opposition would be unwillingly spotted a goal by the Huskies. A friendly pass through the Husky crease was mishandled and the Dragon bench cheered when it slid over the goal line. The embarrassment was quickly put behind them as the Huskies resumed their cycling attacks. The finisher came when the Dragon coach pulled his goalie. The Dogs forced a turnover and Noseworthy broke the puck out to Naylor who then fed Griffith. Griffith made no mistake and secured the insurance point on the empty net with seconds remaining. It was a nice 3 – 1 win that redeemed the earlier loss and secured the A-pool consolation prize.