Nov 23, 2012 | DTherien | 1108 views
Otters Host Home Tournament
The Huntsville Novice Otters were on home ice this
past weekend, playing host to 11 visiting teams from across the
province in the 2nd Annual Duke Knox Memorial Tournament.
The young squad squared off against some of Ontario's top teams and
showed great strength and tenacity over the 3-day event.
The Otters first opponent of the
tournament was the Porquois Rec Flyers from Iroquois Falls.
The evenly matched teams fought hard throughout the opening period but it was the Flyers that struck first with a goal late in the period to put their team on the board.
Late in the second, the Otters matched the Flyers effort with a stellar goal by centerman Jackson Durnan to deadlock the score at 1-1 after 20 minutes. But the Flyers were relentless and with less than 1 minute left in the game, the Porquois team managed to poke one past a sprawling Otters net minder for a heartbreaking 2-1 loss for the Otters.
The Otters showed amazing composure and determination heading into their second game of the tournament against the spirited Pelham Panthers. It was obvious from the moment the puck dropped that the Otters were out for redemption after the tough loss they suffered the day before. The Huntsville team took a stranglehold of the Panthers early when the Otters “tremendous trio” of Jackson Durnan, Jesse Taylor and Logan Therrien combined to score 4 goals in just under 6 minutes during the first.
The Otters continued the onslaught during the second with another tally from Durnan and a sniper shot from Ben Power to raise the score to 6.
The Otters dynamite defense kept the Panthers hemmed in for the majority of the game helping Huntsville goaltenders Riley Knox and Ian Adams record a well-deserved 6-0 shut out.
The third match-up of the tourney for the Otters was against the Newcastle Stars. The Huntsville team looked good early with wingers Crozier, Huke, Punchard, Power and Standing owning the corners and creating a multitude of scoring chances for the Otters offense. But it was the Stars who were able to capitalize on their attempts, posting three goals in the last three minutes of the first period.
Penalties got the Otters in hot water during the second and third period forcing the squad to defend themselves against 5 power plays to stay in the game. But the talented goaltenders and aggressive defensive play of Ryley DiGiacomo, Cohen Poore, Nate Johnson and Gray Patey prevented any more damage for the Otters.
The Otters finally got on the board late in the second with a single marker from high-scoring defenseman Cohen Poore on an assist from Punchard but it wasn't enough to pull the Otters out of the hole. The team fell to the Stars by a score of 3-1.
In perhaps the most memorable moment of the tournament, Otters goalkeeper Riley Knox presented the winning team with the championship trophy named in honour of his Grandfather, Duke Knox who was a long time supporter of hockey in Huntsville.
Another highlight was the Novice Otters offering of sportsmanship and friendship by presenting all of the tournament finalists with their individual gold and silver medals, creating long lasting memories for the players, coaches and families.
Way to go Otters! You put on a great tournament!