Port Elgin Legion Branch 340 Peewee’s Earn Runner-up Finish at Chris Knott Memorial Tournament, News, Peewee B, U13 (OMHA), 2014-2015 (Saugeen Shores Minor Hockey)

Port Elgin Legion Branch 340 Peewee Rep team makes final in the annual Chris Knott Tournament. Come up short in tough match against bitter rival Kincardine Kinucks.
Written by George Condy

In the Annual Chris Knott Memorial Tournament, the home Storm faced off against rival Kincardine in their first game on Friday (Nov 21). The boys in blue weathered the initial push by Kincardine in the opening frame. Kincardine, buoyed by their recent convincing win over the Storm, went on the offensive early and often, but couldn’t get past the Storm’s defensive juggernauts Sam Flarity, Sam Elyea, Corey Ribey, Brady Moulton, and Nick Scott. On the few chances they were able to get a shot off, goalie Tanner Bromfield simply turned them all aside. The Storm would get on the board in the 2^nd period with goals from James Fowler and Jason Taylor. The home squad added another pair in the 3^rd period off the stick of Captain Dane Heipel. The boys worked hard in front of Bromfield all night and ensured that Bromfield would earn the team’s first shutout of the season, winning 4-0.

The boys then faced off against the Paris Wolfpack in their second game and easily dismantled the opposition 6-2, earning a berth in the 1^st semi-final. In the semi-final, the Peewee B’s met up with perennial contenders, the Petrolia Oilers. This year, the Oilers were no match for the Storm as the boys earned their 3^rd straight lop-sided victory, this one 6-1, setting up a rematch in the final with Kincardine.

The rematch was an exciting affair from the opening puck drop. Kincardine scored first, taking the early 1-0 lead. Hungry for their first tournament championship, the Storm came back to take the lead off goals from Jake Condy and Heipel. A late 1^st period goal by the visitor’s knotted the score at 2. Four more unanswered goals by the rivals seemed to put the game out of reach. With a couple of goals by Jason Taylor and Zahne Barton, Saugeen Shores tried to make a late push to chase down the championship, but the final buzzer sounded before the home squad could make it any closer than 6-4, allowing Kincardine to take home the trophy.