Nov 01, 2009 | treading | 2063 views
Atom Reps win 'B' championship in first tournament of the season.
The atoms entered the weekend with a 4-0 regular season record and a 5-1 record overall for the season. The New Hamburg tournament was agood measuring stick for the squad as they played some very strong teams this weekend.
The weekend began with a match up with Tillsonburg. After a very slow start to the game the Cyclones found themselves trailing 2-0 after one period. A very strong positional team took the game to the boys who never seemed to get on track all game. The Cyclones go onto lose the game 3-0.
On Friday night the boys seemed to be back on track. They seemed to have more jump and took it to the opposing Thorold squad. Strong forechecking and great goaltending let the boys play the style of game that they are capable too. Listowel wins 2-1.
Another early game Saturday, seemed to be a repeat of the prior morning as the boys had another slow start and couldn't seem to get the game going the way they wanted. A strong New Hamburg team played great hockey and took the victory by a 5-2 count.
On Saturday afternoon the boys seemed ready to take it to an undefeated Lucan team. Listowel jumped out to an early lead but Lucan fought their way back to even the score. Listowel once again took the lead only to have Lucan tie it up late in the third. After three periods of hockey the game was tied and the Listowel squad were killing a penalty at the start of overtime and just 20 seconds in the Lucan squad potted the game winner to hnad our boys a 3-2 loss.
On Sunday morning the Atom Cyclones played the strong New Hamburg team for the 'B' championship game. Earlier in the tourney New Hamburg dominated our boys, but our boys went to school on this and had it figured out that if they forced the play in the offensive end and cut of the lanes in the defensive end that they could compete. And that they did!
From the coaches perspective, this was our strongest game of the season. The players moved the puck, forchecked hard, backchecked strong and had some solid goaltending to lead them to a 4-1 victory. New Hamburg were scrabbling to make anything happen and the boys kept the pressure on all game right until the final buzzer. It was a very impressive victory and showed the team that they are starting to put the practice drills into game situations.
This weekend the goaltenders Nicholas O'Grady and Luke Brubaker played very strong games. Strong play and leadership with Mitchell Deelstra, Reece Reading and Josh Gottfried leading the way. Good forechecking from Lucas Jamieson, Derek Fischer, Michael Uptigrove, Jacob Robinson, Andrew Bauman, Cooper Miller and Brett MacLeod. Solid defensive play by Austin McGrath, Will Calder, Reid Gooding and Curtis Jackson.
Listowel's next action is Friday night at Saugeen Shores.
Congratulations boys on your strong victory.