The Peewee Reps travelled to Schomberg this past weekend for the annual Red & White Tournament. Having won this tournament the past two years in a row, the team was hoping to three-peat.
The opening game took place on Saturday morning against the Haliburton Highland Storm. The game turned into a penalty bonanza as the man in stripes assessed a total of 34 minutes in penalties between the two teams over the course of three 10 minute periods. The Storm drew first blood late in the first as they snuck one past the Cyclones netminder. The Cycs answered back midway through the second when Bailey Matheson picked-up a rebound from Ben Rothwell and found the back of the net. Josh Gottfried picked-up passes from Reece Reading and Wade McPhee early in the third to give the Cycs the lead. Rothwell would round-out the scoring late in the third on a nice pass from Bryce Fletcher. Braeden Ellis would earn the win in net. Final score, Listowel 3, Highland 1.
The next opponent would be the Beeton Stingers on Saturday afternoon. This game was dominated by the Cycs and they displayed some great team play with a lot of passing and good puck movement. The scoring was opened by Fletcher after being fed the puck by Parker Yungblut midway through the first. Gottfried would light the lamp again to end the first. Cole McKee would score on a solo effort early in the second, followed just over a minute later with another from Gottfried, assisted by Yungblut and Fletcher. Reece Johnson would score the final marker late in the second to give the Cycs a five goal lead. There was no scoring in the third, despite the referee’s efforts giving the Stingers four powerplay opportunities in the third. Final score, Listowel 5, Beeton 0. Jacob Nethercott would earn the win between the pipes.
Game three on Saturday night would prove to be the toughest game yet as the boys readied themselves to face the home team Schomberg Red Wings. The boys were very surprised with the physical, rough play of the Red Wings. The Red Wings would open the scoring just 33 seconds into the game on a bad bounce of a shin pad. They would stretch the lead to two to end the first frame. The Cycs battled hard and were rewarded with a goal when McKee fed Rothwell who finished with a rocket from the point to find the top corner. The third period was back and forth, fast hockey but no more scoring could be found. Final score, Schomber 2, Listowel 1. This would end the round robin play and the Cyclones would finish in second spot, close behind Schomberg.
The semi-finals would begin at noon on Sunday against the Penetang Flames. The Flames would get on the scoreboard first, however, Fletcher would quickly tie it up before the end of one. Matheson would give the Cycs the lead late in the second, but the Flames would battle back to tie it up early in the third. McKee would slide one under the goalie’s pads with 3 minutes left in the game. This would prove to be the game winner and would earn a spot in the finals against the Schomberg Red Wings.
The final game would be a repeat of last year’s showdown with these same two teams going head to head. The pre-game, motivational speech from Coach Jacklin would have made Herb Brooks proud and the boys hit the ice determined to take home the trophy. Once again, the Red Wings came out aggressive and hitting hard, but the Cycs were better prepared and gave it right back to them. The Cycs would outplay, outwork and outshoot the Red Wings, however, it would be the Red Wings ahead by three with just six minutes remaining in the game when Fletcher would finally get the Cycs on the board, assisted by Matheson and Rothwell. The goal seemed to give the boys their second wind and the majority of the last few minutes were played in the Schomberg end. Due to a scramble in front of the net and a player’s hand covering the puck in the crease, the Cycs were awarded a penalty shot! The crowd were all on the edge of their seats as the player skated in, deked left, deked right, the goalie was out of position, shot, TING, off the post! The Cycs net was empty for the last minute and numerous shots were fired at the net, but the Schomberg goalie couldn’t be beat. The home team claimed the championship by a score of 3 - 1.
Congratulations to Cole McKee for receiving the team's MVP of the tournament award. Every player on the team worked hard every game and none of them ever gave up when they were down on the scoreboard. Congratulations to the boys and the coaching staff on a great tournament.