Mar 19, 2023 | Brendan Magee | 128 views
Shorthanded Cycs put in good effort at Ayr Silverstick
The boys travelled to Ayr on the weekend to compete in the U9 Tier 1 International Silverstick and would do so with only 8 skaters. The heart and effort each player showed was commented on by opposing coaches and fans as the group fought hard coming away with a win and two losses.
Game 1 would see the boys square off with the Tillsonburg Tornadoes. The Cycs would come out flying in the first period with goals by Tyce Passmore (2), Maddox Birk (2) and Ian Magee to see the score 5-0. They would pick up where the left off in the second with Magee, Hunter Adamson and Birk adding to the total. The Tornadoes would get on the board with two and see the score at 8-2 with one period to play.
The third would see Birk and Magee both complete the hat trick the final score 10-2. This was as complete a game as the boys had played all year with everyone contributing on defence and great puck movement. Alton Scholdice, Brandt Donaldson, Oliver Gutnecht and Fin Long all picked up assists on the goals and Sullivan Meulensteen was a rock between the pipes.
Game 2 would see the boys from Listowel play a familiar foe in the Drayton Defenders and they wouldn't disappoint. As seems to be a trend in these games, the Cycs jumped out to an early lead started with Gutnecht making a perfect chip past the last defender to Birk who stormed the Drayton crease and buried to give the Cycs a 1-0 lead. Minutes later Magee would get loose in the corner and tuck it home to give the boys a 2-0 lead to end the period. Early in the first Sholdice would find Adamson alone in front and he would rip it past the Defender goalie to extend the lead to 3. Arguably the top team in the area, Drayton didn't panic and would chip away at the lead eventually tying the game mid way through the 3rd period. The short bench and the 2nd game of the day would eventually get to the Listowel boys who refused to quit and gave it every ounce they had but couldn't hold on eventually falling 5-3 with a late goal and an empty netter.
Game 3 saw the boys face off against Burford who possessed a player that had racked up 88 points including 77 goals in 13 games of league play. With nothing left in the tank after a hard fought day 1, the Cys would not have their best effort and would fall 15-3 to the Coyotes (11 of which scored by one player). One highlight for Listowel was a goal from the point by underage defenceman Finley Long which was his first of full ice hockey, congrats Fin!!!! Adamson and Magee would net the other two goals both set up by Birk.
Overall it was a good experience for the Cyclones, they gave it their all with only 8 skaters and had fun together. They are back on the ice Monday night in Clinton against a very good Mid Huron Huskie squad.