Oct 14, 2018 | Ryan Roth | 1970 views
Atom AE Huskies Capture Challenge Cup Championship
The New Hamburg Huskies Atom AE team travelled to Caledonia to compete in the Challenge Cup tournament from Oct. 11-14.
In their first game, the Huskies got off to a slow start against Ancaster, falling behind 4-1. However, the Huskies stormed back in the last two periods scoring nine straight goals for a convincing 10-4 win. Taezen Donaghy, Rowan Dibben, Ethan St. Clair, Aiden Asselstine, Chace Hoffman, Travis Ernst, and William Bryson all found the twine, with Carter Maue, Ethan Gohl, Logan Merkley, Carter Tonin and Jayse Londry picking up assists. Jaxson Fischer shut out the Avalanche for the final two periods to secure the win.
In their second game, the Huskies faced the Woolwich Wildcats. Zackary Sanche got the start in goal making many big saves for the Huskies. The Huskies took a 3-1 lead early in the third period. However two quick goals by the Wildcats tied the game up. With time winding down, Sasha Kurdorf-Pescantin took the puck the length of the rink and picked the corner for the game winning goal. A late empty net goal sealed a 5-3 win for New Hamburg.
Needing a win or tie to clinch first place in their pool, the Huskies faced a determined squad from King Township. Despite dominating most of the play, the Huskies found themselves trailing after giving up a first period goal. Wave after wave of Huskie attacks were thwarted by the King Township goalie. Finally, late in the third period, Donaghy managed to bang home a rebound on a scramble in front of the net to tie up the game.
The tie meant that the Huskies would face the host Caledonia Thunder in the semi-finals. The Thunder struggled to deal with the Huskies speed as Hoffman, Donaghy, St. Clair, and Ernst all scored giving the Huskies a second period lead. Caledonia was determined to tie the game up but some solid goaltending by Sanche thwarted their opponents and New Hamburg came away with a 4-3 win.
This set up a championship match against the Mount Brydges Cougars, who had rolled through the tournament, winning each game they played quite decisively. The Cougars came our buzzing, but some big saves by Fischer kept the game scoreless until the Huskies could get their legs going. St. Clair got the scoring started netting a pair of goals. Tonin and Bryson each netted second period goals. The defensive corps of Zackary Taylor, Nate Roth, Assestine, Merkley, and Londry were dynamite in shutting down the Cougars throughout the game. The Huskies prevailed as champions with a 4-2 victory. Congratulations to all the Huskie players on determined effort all weekend long.