Jan 25, 2014 | jknox | 1076 views
Fantastic Competition at International Silver Stick
Last weekend the Minor Midget Otters competed in the Minor Midget A International Silver Stick in Newmarket Ontario. Although we were put out in the quarter finals, the competition was so close that any one of the teams could have taken the Championship title home with them. This tournament isnot only a battle of skill but also one of endurance. Deep benches definitely had the advantage however our small Otters bench was eager to put Huntsville on the International map for Hockey.
Friday started at noon where Huntsville met a team from Colorado named the Arapahoe. Huntsville started off fairly slow allowing the Colorado team to take a 2-0 lead by the end of the first period, but late in the second Dalton Boothby slammed in our first goal assisted by Cody Jones. The battle continues with equal play on both side of the ice well into the third period with Otter goaltender Trevor Lawson keeping us in the game at crucial points. It wasn't until the last five minutes of the 3rd period that the Dwight boys, Marshall Clarke assisted by Justin Doherty, tied the game up for us. Final score of that game was 2-2, each of the teams getting one point for the start of the tournament.
Game 2 was a bit more feisty on and off the ice. First thing that needs to be said here, to any and all that are reading this, is that if you have never been involved in organizing a tournament there is a place you can find the tournament rules. If you happen to question the rules of the tournament there is a committee to ask them to. Never, EVER assume that you know the rules or spout off to the opposing team fans or players. However you can be assured that your selected bench staff will know the rules, or rather should know the rules. Huntsville fans and players were witness to the ignorance of a couple of teams regarding eligibility of our team due to the age requirements with respect to the level of ratings from your home centre. As Brampton's rating is A, their age requirements for team players could not be any older then 1998 birth years. As Huntsville is a BB rating our age requirements could include 1997 birth years. And for the American teams competing, they compete by grade level so they also had some 1997 birth years. Enough said on this.
So game two was fairly vocal and animosity was starting to sit in between the teams early on. Huntsville received 29 minutes in penalties to Brampton's 10 minutes. Brampton outscored us in the first period 1-0 but the second period the Otters came alive and pocketed 4 goals to Bramptons' 2, leading into the third period 4-3 for the Otters. The Otters lost one of their four defensemen early in the third as Ryan Brunskill received a 5 minute headcheck penalty and a 10 minute misconduct. This meant that Brunskill is out for 3 games and one of our other players had to serve his penalty. We now had 3 Defensemen and down to 8 forwards for the rest of this game. 2 goals were scored in this period, the first by the otters Captain Nathan Zantingh assisted by brother Joshua and Christopher Hudson prior to the questionable head check call. But as we know momentum change is so important and Brampton was coming on strong. Brampton did score immediately after the penalty call on Brunskill however they could not get by goaltender Teagan Meredith again. Final score of the game was 5-4. The first four gaols were awarded to N Zantingh for a total of 3, J Zanting for 1 and Brunskill with 1. The much needed and pretty assistance for these goals were N Zantingh for 2, J Zantingh for 2, Hudson for 2 and Jared Stevens for 2.
Compared to game two game three against the Pennsylvania Ice Cats was inconsequential with the Otters winning 5-0. Unfortunately we lost forward Alex Dahl this game due to a checking from behind penalty. He will sit for game 4 but is back for the playoff rounds. Goals and assists awarded as follows N Zantingh 3 G, Jordan Dobson 1G 2 A, Marshall Clarke 1G 1A, J Zantingh 2A, and single assists to Stevens, Doherty and Walker Veitch.
Game Four was a deciding factor on where we would play that night. Caledon is in our division and the top two teams move forward in each division. Caledon had 6 points to our 5 points at this point. Both teams were again extremely well matched in skill however the numbers of players were a bit lopsided in Caledon's favour. First blood was stuck by Caledon half way thru the first period, 1-0. However, digging deep and controlling the play with some skill full D-D passing Stevens tied it up with 10 second left in the first. Veitch was the Assist. The battle raged on for two more periods but to no avail as both teams could not get it thru to the back of the opponents net. Each team picked up a point leaving Caledon in first place and Huntsville in Second place for the Quarter final game at 9 pm that night.
The Otter's opponents for the quarter finals is the first place team in Division 2 which was Quinte West. The Otters won the first period as they scored first with Hudson burying it from N. Zantingh and Duke Knox. The second period Quinte West won by scoring twice on Lawson. The third period had both teams exhausted,and remember the Otters is now on their third game with only 3 Defensemen. However the forwards continued their push which allowed us to win the third period with a lone goal by Dahl from Veitch and Jones. Onto Overtime play. This means a bunch of different things to different people when you hear OT. And it depends on level of play, playoffs or regular season tournament or league games....however our Otters played the best they could have with our top scorer taken down when in the offensive scoring position, resulting in a turn around for the Quinte team providing a collision of players at the blue line, which lead to having an offside on Quinte not called leading to a 3 on 2 and the inevitable Quinte goal. I have the video.
So.... trying to not sound like sour grapes as honestly this is a great lesson for the Otters entering into OMHA playoffs this coming weekend, NEVER STOP UNTIL YOU HEAR THE WHISTLE...NOT EVEN WHEN YOU KNOW THAT THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ONE. I personally have not seen this team play as well as they did at this tournament yet this year. Be proud of yourselves, Minor Midgets and other people reading this should congratulate you on your representation of Huntsville.
Just a side note...Quite West won the Championships.