Saugeen Storm LL#1, Allen’s Fireside Grill completed in the
Southport Optimist Tournament on Saturday in Southampton. This was a great event with 8 local leagues
competing and ready for a great day of fun.
Atom Storm LL#1 was especially excited for this and the team showed up
just pumped to open the Tournament in the first game against Storm LL#2.
Storm #1 vs Storm#2 in Tournament Opener
Storm#1 was pumped and ready to take on their opponents Storm#2 as the puck dropped to open the Tournament. Storm#2 broke free right off the opening faceoff and took to Storm#1’s end and with the first shot in the game the team was down by one. With the team reassuring Ben they would not let this happen again they gained to Storm#2’s zone and started working hard. As the game continued we saw some great passing, skating and battling from Storm#1 as they played most of the game in their opponent’s zone getting some real good opportunities but just could not beat Storm#2’s goaltender. The clock would run out and Storm #1 where down 3-0 sending them into the Consolation side of the Tournament Bracket. The coaches were very happy with their teams play as they totally out played them and most of the game Storm#1 played in their opponents end. Ian was awarded the Digger for his aggressive play and just working hard the entire game. Congrats Ian!
Storm vs Walkerton Capitals in Game #2
With the Storm still excited and ready to go for game two they knew that had to play hard to stay alive in the tournament. The puck dropped and they took to the Capitals zone as they battled hard. All the great passing from the first game carried over into this one as we neared the two minute mark Talan moved the puck to Jake from the blueline, Jake saw Jack in the slot, moved the puck to him and Jack hammered that baby home putting his team up early in the game. Jack earning the goal and Jake and Talan the well deserved assists. The Capitals came back netting two to make the score 2-1 early in the contest. With the Storm on the power play and with a very similar play we saw Ian keep the puck in and passing down low to Riley who had a good look found Ismail all alone out front and Ismail hammered home a beauty to tie the game on another fantastic passing play. Ismail with the goal and Riley and Ian earning assists on the beautiful play. The period was a wild one as Jake then came back to score unassisted just after this and the Storm were up 3-2 as the period ran out.
The Storm entered into the second continuing to battle hard as they kept up the great work and skated very well. Wes was coming out of our zone carrying the puck, made the move up ice and beat the Capitals netminder with an unassisted end to end play just before the seven minute mark. The Capitals came back and got one past Ben with one minute remaining in the period to make the score 4-3 at the end of the period.
The Third we saw no scoring and things started to get real tough for the Storm as the Capitals started playing a very physical game. The Storm stayed with their game plan and Big Save Benny shut the door on his opponents allowing the his team to win the game and move on to the Consolation Final.
Great Job team as this was a very tough game but the team worked hard and worked as a team to earn the victory. Jake was awarded the Digger Award for his hard work and never give up attitude all game. Congrats Jake and Congrats team on a great game!!
Storm vs Mitchell Meteors for the Consolation Championship
With A Championship game to play the Storm were hopping in the dressing room waiting to get started. The puck dropped and we were underway with the Championship game, as both teams started out working really hard. The Storm struck first with Jake netting a beauty shot unassisted just before the half way mark of the first. Both teams kept battling and skating hard and the Meteors came back just after the four minute mark sliding one in the Storms net. The Storm kept up the hard work and in the dying seconds of the period Charlie made a sweet pass up to Jake who skated in and hammered in a beauty going bar down to put the Storm up 2-1 at the end of the first.
With less than a minute into the second period Wes started out of his end making a pass up ice to Riley, he dished the puck back to Wes who continued up with the rush and made a swift move and slid the puck over the goal line, Wes earning the goal and Riley the real nice heads up assist. Next we saw Andrew move the puck back to Talan on the point, Talan ripped one of his boomers towards the Meteors net, it was defected off one of their players and trickled into the net with Talan earning the goal and Andrew the beauty assist passing the puck back to the defenseman who was wide open. As we approached the two minute mark the Meteors managed another goal, but seconds later after the faceoff at center ice Jake won the draw back to Josh who passed it over to Talan. Talan moved the puck off the boards up to Jake who rushed to the net lifting a hard shot past the Meteors goaltender to earn the hattrick as Coach Richard and Evan threw their hats on the ice in celebration. Once again this was an amazing passing play with Jake the goal and Josh and Talan the assists on a real smart hockey play. With the score 5-2 and only two minutes left in the game the Storm held off their opponent as the clock was counting down, when all of a sudden Ian picked up the puck in the Storm’s end, carried it around the net behind Ben and took off with the puck up ice. Ian was flying making some real nice moves to get around the Meteors moving into their end he lost the puck only to pick it back up and jam that sucker home netting his first of the season on an unassisted play. Nice work Ian and congrats on the first goal of the season. This would do it and the clock ran out and the Storm flew on to the ice to celebrate with Big Save Benny who had played a great game as well making some key stops for his teammates all game.
The Storm did it and won the Consolation Championship in a great day of hockey in Southampton. Congrats Team you all played very well and worked hard all day. Ismail was awarded the Digger award for his hard work all over the ice and some real good positional play. Congrats Ismail!!!
Saugeen Storm Atom LL#1 Coaching Staff, Players, Parents and siblings would like to thank Rob Witter the Tournament Convener and all the volunteers from the Southport Optimist club for making this fantastic tournament happen as we all had a really great time today.