Mar 02, 2022 | Laura Kahgee | 328 views
Storm bring home the championship at Aylmer Flames A/E Tournament
The U11 AE Storm, sponsored by the Queens Bar and Grill, traveled to Aylmer this past weekend for the Aylmer Flames AE Tournament and came away with the championship after five hard fought games.
The Storm played their first first game Friday afternoon against the South Huron Blizzards. The Storm struck early off of a beautiful shot by Fletcher Mason. Key defensive plays by Ollie Alpaugh and Blake Desormeaux limited the Blizzards chances in the offensive zone. Fletcher Mason added another goal late in the first giving the Storm a 2-0 lead headed into the second.
The Blizzards came out hungry in the second but a strong performance in net and overall team defense limited the Blizzards chances. The Blizzards scored midway through the second but the Storm came back late and reestablished the 2 goal lead with a beautiful play by Braxtyn McNeil and Harrison Bray to goal scorer Jefferson Cremasco.
It was a defensive battle in the 3rd period with either giving an inch. Ben Burnett-Scott had a strong performance in net and kept the Storm in the game when the Blizzards made their push.
Game 2 featured the Storm against Ingersoll. The game started as a tight defensive battle. The Storm put pressure on Ingersoll but Ingersoll scored the first goal. However the Storm battled back scoring 6 straight unanswered goals by Braxtyn McNeil, Malakai Kranenburg, Trent Cook, Jefferson Cremasco, Harrison Bray and Fletcher Ribey. Ingersoll answered with a goal early in the third but that would be the end of the scoring for them. Preston Lamont and Finn Connolly rounded out the scoring in the third sealing the victory for the Storm.
Brayden Dietrich battled hard in net, turning away several scoring chances, including a redirection off a player in front. The overall team play and defence was on display again as the Storm did an excellent job passing and forechecking. The excellent chemistry between the forward lines was also on display throughout the game.
Game 3 was an early morning tilt against Strathroy. Another very evenly matched game, Strathroy and the Storm traded chances all game. The Storm had several break way opportunities that were broken up by a strong back check from Strathroy or an excellent save by the goaltender.
Strathroy added 2 quick goals in the second and despite the Storms strong push they could not get back in the game. Ben Burnett-Scott had another strong game between the pipes keeping the Storm in the game for all three periods. Strong defensive play by Malakai Kranenburg and Ryker McBride stifled several chances from Strathroy.
Despite the loss the Storm entered the semi finals in first place in their division. For the semi finals they faced off against the Guelph Gryphons who finished second in their division. The Storm started off a dominant performance with a mid period power play goal by Fletcher Mason. Early in the second Fletcher Mason scored his second off of a beautiful set up by Preston Lamont. Fletcher Mason rounded off the hat-trick when he scored late in the 2nd off of another beautiful set up by Preston Lamont and Oliver Alpaugh.
Preston Lamont scored late in the 3rd to seal the win for the Storm. Brayden Dietrich recorded the shut out off of a strong performance in net and a strong team defence kept the Gryphons at bay throughout the game. The dominant performance set the table for the Storms final tilt on Sunday.
The Championship game went Sunday at 12:15 against Strathroy, the only team to beat the Storm so far in the tournament. Worse yet, Strathroy was also the only team to shut the Storm out with strong defence and excellent goaltending.
Out of the gate it was clear the Storm were not going to let history repeat itself, coming out with a strong push to pressure Strathroy in the offensive zone. A strong forecheck by Trent Cook and Fletcher Ribey resulted in a great chance and the line combinations of McNeil, Cremasco, Bray and Mason, Lamont, Connolly created excellent chances for the Storm. Jefferson Cremasco scored a power play goal late in the first to give the Storm the lead heading into the second.
The Second period followed a similar path with an overall strong team play giving the Storm plenty of chances. Fletcher Mason cashed in on a power play goal mid way through the second to give the Storm a 2-0 lead which they carried into the third period.
In the third, the Storm scored another PP goal early to take a 3-0 lead off of an excellent team goal scored by Braxtyn McNeil. Strathroy answered late with their own power play goal to make it 3-1 but the Storm held their ground. With over a minute left, one of the teams key defensemen in the box and the Strathroy goalie pulled, the Storm had to kill off of a 6 on 4 push by Strathroy. Key defensive plays by Edgerrin Kahgee and Malakai Kranenburg stopped the Strathroy attack. The Storm won 3-1 in a total team effort victory.
Special thanks to the coaches Peter Alpaugh, Joe McNeil and Ken Cook for their leadership on the bench.
Go Storm Go!!!