It was an exciting
weekend of hockey for the Saugeen Shores Novice B Storm. The Storm travelled to Wiarton for the 4th
Annual Austin Holley Memorial Hockey Tournament, where they faced the Lucan
Irish, the Bruce Peninsula Predators, and the Shallow Lake Lakers in the “Rep”
division bracket.
Within the first two minutes of their first game of tournament, the Storm was penalized for hooking during a breakaway for the Lucan Irish. The Irish were able to capitalize on their penalty shot, making the score 1-0 for the Irish.
Play remained fast-paced and aggressive during the remainder of the first and the start of the second periods. A breakaway goal for Storm centreman, Liam Doherty equalized the score midway through the second period. After a fantastic save, Storm goalie, Keenan Bender, was injured as the Irish attempted to dig-out a rebound, which brought goaltender, Lucas “Doughboy” McCulloch into the game. McCulloch made several big saves, to keep his team in the game, but in the last seconds of the second period, Lucan scored their second goal of the game.
During the third period, Doughboy made several outstanding glove-saves to keep his team in the game. The Irish were able to beat the Storm’s defense to a rebound, making the score 3-1 for Lucan. Despite a great scoring chance for Chad Lawrence after being set-up by Will Nason, the Storm were unable to beat Lucan’s net-minder and lost their first game of the tournament and of their season.
In the early minutes of their second game, the Bruce Peninsula Predators scored within the first few minutes of the period. The storm countered with lots of pressure in the Predators’ end and forward, Will Nason, was able to monopolize for the Storm. Forward, Sean Moorehead, had several scoring opportunities and rushes, but was unable to capitalize. In the last minute of play, defenseman Jason Legge took a pass from Dustin Heipel in the Storm’s end and carried the puck cross ice and scored the go-ahead goal for the Storm.
The Storm maintained control of the puck for most of the second period. Solid defensive play by Austin Dunlop, Malachi McKinnon, Lucas Harris, and Jason Legge ensured that opportunities for the Predators were quickly smothered. Brandon Embro, Sean Moorehead, Luke Thornley, Liam Doherty, and Austin Dunlop each had excellent scoring chances during the period, but Bruce Penn’s goalie kept the Predators in the game. Finally, forward Chad Lawrence was able to sink a rebound, which was followed by lineman Will Nason’s rebound goal, making the score going into the 3rd period 4-1 for the Storm.
Play during the third period saw forwards Luke Thornley, Dustin Heipel, and Will Nason each capitalizing on scoring chances and goalie, Lucas McCulloch, keeping the Predators off of the scoreboard. The storm finished their second game of the tournament with a final score of 7-1, landing them in the Silver Championship game on Sunday. Special awards were given to Will Nason for his hat trick and to Sean Moorehead, for Player of the Game.
The Silver Championship game was played early Sunday afternoon against the Shallow Lake Lakers. Play during the first period was focused in the Lakers’ end, but the Storm was unable to best the Lakers’ goalie, despite a great cross-ice pass from Malachi McKinnon to Emmett Jackson for an awesome scoring opportunity.
Play in the second saw forward Dustin Heipel crack the scoreboard with a breakaway goal. During a goal-mouth scramble, forwards Brandon Embro and Liam Doherty fired a barrage of shots at the Lakers’ net-minder before Luke Thornley made one stick, bringing the score to 2-0 for the Storm.
Pressure during the third period remained in the Lakers’ end, with great passing by Austin Dunlop and Chad Lawrence and solid scoring chances for Jason Legge and Dustin Heipel. Player of the Game was awarded to goalie Keenan Bender for his shut-out and the Saugeen Shores Novice B Storm were named the Silver Bracket Champions. Way to go Storm!