Article written by Coach Andy Barnard:
This is just a short note to advise all Saugeen Shore residents that there is a Storm Warning for any area that will be facing our Local and Rep teams in the New Year. Like most Storm teams the Atom AE team sponsored by Rosners Auto and Krown Rust Control are ready for action in 2010!
I can’t speak for all teams but the Atom AE’s have been in tough every game. On Friday night the Storm played against the Listowel Cyclones in what should be a prelude to one of the future playoff rounds. The game was only 35 minutes long but for the fans in the stands it seemed like hours of great entertainment. The game started off like most with both teams searching for the go a head goal. Yet the Cyclones got on the board first as a breakaway turned into a foot race between the cyclone player and Storm Defensemen Duncan Wilkinson and Nolan Dereski. Wilkinson was able to get a stick on the Cyclone player and foiled his attempt to shoot. Goaltender Cam Plante was able to stop the redirect but a trailing Cyclone player was able to pick up the garbage and slide it home for the go ahead goal. The Storm battled through the next 10 minutes and dominated the game in the offensive zone. It wasn’t until early in the third when Nolan Dereski went for a skate ending with a Gretzky like pass to Storm Winger Colton Heipel who beat the Cyclone Goaltender with a rocket of a wrist shot. The Storm continued to apply pressure to the Cyclones, spending ¾ of the time in the offensive zone. “ We played sweaty head hockey tonight” said Coach Barnard. As sweat poured down their faces (or was that water) some players were even to tired to get the after game slushy (not likely). After three well fought periods the game had ended in a tie. Although the scoreboard read 1-1 the Cyclones home knew the only reason they were even in the game was because of stellar goaltending. My personal opinion but maybe the Leafs should start to look in South Western Ontario to solve their goaltending issues. Not to be out done the Storm had their own star goaltenders as Ken Bollen and Cam Plante stood on their heads when needed. It has been a tough season for the Rosner/Krown Rust Control Atom AE’s but when they put it together they are a fun team to watch. Our team does not measure its success by the Wins but by the experience, did we play our hardest? Did we try every shift? Did we have fun? “As a coach my job is to develop my players to be “better” to develop our team to be “better”. To create an atmosphere for our players and parents to want to come to the rink each and every night. Well at the AE level it is easy to face teams that are going to kick your butt. So getting beat every night can be discouraging. A big thank you to the parents and fans for their support. Our players are learning and developing with your support. If our players continue to come to the rink with a smile on their face we can’t help but have fun and develop into a Team. I am very proud of our players. They are starting to come together, and I’m expecting greatness very soon. To all players and family members have a happy and safe Holiday season.