Mar 10, 2013 | Pete Verbeek | 1030 views
"B" Champions at Gord Hymers Tourney
The Novice Rep Cyclones won the B Championship at the annual Gord Hymers Novice Rep B/BB tourney.
The morning started bright and early at 8am (after the clocks moved forward and hour to boot) vs the St. Mary's Rock. The team was without the services of Drew "Zdeno Chara" Wilken on defense as he was off enjoying the sunny south and welcomed back their two "Harlem Shaking" young coaches back from Mexico without any sleep from the night before.
The team knew they would be in for a tough game to start the day and the Rock would not disappoint. The game would go back and forth to start and finally with 2:29 left in the first period Carter Coombs scored an unassisted goal to give the team a one goal lead. St Mary's would respond just 29 seconds later when their forward banked on in from the corner. The opposition would then go ahead by one half way through the second period to lead 2-1 after 2 setting up an action packed third. The Cyclones would have many opportunities to score but some big saves by the Rock goalie kept the score the same and the Rock finished with a 2-1 victory. Ben Nauta was given the player of the game for his strong forechecking effort.
Up second was a match at 10am vs the Ayr Flames. Again the home side would know they would be in tough as Ayr had a close game with St Mary's earlier in the year. The visitors would go up 2 early in the first but the Cyclones would dig deep and take the lead 3-2 before the end of the period. The second period saw the team come out flying and score 4 more to go up 7-2 before the Flames would score one to make it 7-3 going to the 3rd. Our kids would score 3 more in the 3rd with Ethan shutting the door the rest of the way to make the final 10-3. Carter Coates earned the player of the game in this one while Ben and Coombsy got awards for achieving hat-tricks in this match.
Coombsy ended up with 5 goals and 2 assists, Ben 3g, 2a, Camden 1g, 1a, Owen 1g, Carter Coates 3a, Brooke 2a, Logan 2a, Ty 2a, Jayannth 2a, Brayden 1a and Harrison 1a.
The team then enjoyed their delicious breakfast/lunch from the Listowel Skating Club and went of for a video session to help prepare for the upcoming playoff finals. The shootout competition was up next with Carter Coombs and Ethan competing. Both did a tremendous job and advanced to the finals before losing out.
Finally it was time for the B final vs the Hanover Barons who advanced with a hard fought win in the 5th five minute overtime session of their game with Kincardine right before the shootout. The team again started slow and saw themselves down 2 goals in the first before waking up and scoring 2 in the final 2 minutes of the first to go into the intermission tied. Coombsy converted a pass from Ty and then Carter Coates put the puck up the boards and Coombsy scored again with Logan also getting an assist. The second was back and forth and with just over a minute left the Barons would again take the lead but the Cyclones would again tie it before the end of the period when Coombsy scored from Brayden and Owen to head into the third tied at 3. The third was exciting and half way through the Cyclones would take the lead when Coombsy scored number 4 from Owen. After some nervous moments the Cyclones would put the game out of reach with a goal with just over a minute left when Ben converted a great pass from Coombsy. Coombsy would add his 5th, a shorthanded, empty net goal from his own end to make the final 6-3 and give the kids the B Championship.
Well done kids and coaches for a great tournament. Thanks to the parents and siblings for getting up early and cheering on the kids all day long. And a very special thanks to the tournament organizers and volunteers for all their hard work to put on such an excellent tournament year after year.
Now it is onto the finals of the playoffs vs Goderich. Lets get everyone out to cheer on these kids in the finals as well as the Bantam AE team in their OMHA finals. Watch the website for game dates and times.