The Huntsville Pee Wee Rep Otters traveled to Sudbury over
the weekend to compete in the International Silver Stick Regional
tournament. With a recent string of regular season wins
under their belt, the Otters entered the tournament with confidence and momentum.
In their first match-up of the tournament, the Otters faced
the Nickel City Flyers in a mid-day duel.
Unfortunately for the Flyers, the Otters came out hungry and quickly
proved how determined they were to start the tournament with a big win. After a barrage of goals from the Otters
talented offense and powerhouse defense, the scoreboard tilted heavily in the
Otters favour with an 8-0 victory and well-earned shutout for tender Sam
Thralle.
Next up, the Otters were pitted against another Nickel City team, the Bruins – and this time the Otters knew they would have their hands full. Standing a full head taller than most of the Otters, the strong Bruin forwards used their size and strength to their advantage. But Otters are slippery, and the sheer speed of Huntsville’s shifty forwards and smart play of the Otters defense set up an exciting game with pulse racing end to end action. At the end of the second period, neither team had managed to find the back of the twine but that changed quickly in the third when a goal for each team knotted the score at one apiece. When the final buzzer sounded, both teams were even and the game ended in a 1-1 tie.
In game three, the Otters were paired against a feisty West Nippissing squad on Saturday afternoon. Although the Otters seemed a bit sluggish in the opening frame, the young squad still managed to draw first blood with an exciting shorthanded goal before the end of the first. The single tally was the only goal until mid-way through the third when the Sting found the back of the net on the power play. And the Sting didn’t stop there. With the Otters in penalty trouble again in the dying seconds of the game, the Nippissing snipers took advantage and despite some brilliant goal tending by Otters netminder Ian Adams, the Sting handed the Otters their first defeat of the tournament with a 2-1 loss.
.jpg "Photo Credit: Tayler Horton")
But the loss wasn’t enough to bounce the Huntsville team out of first position in their pool and the Peewee’s were granted a bye to the semi-final round early Sunday morning.
In the cold and dark of morning, the Otters came to the rink ready to face yet another Nickel City team, the North Stars. With memories of a disappointing semi-final exit at their own tournament just a week prior, the Otters took to the ice with something to prove. And it wasn’t long before they did just that, opening the scoring with a power play goal in the first. From there, the see-saw battle began with the North Stars matching each Otter goal in the first two periods and after twenty minutes, the scoreboard showed 2-2. But the Otters owned the third and with the pedal down, the team pulled away with a 4-2 victory, earning themselves a spot in the finals.
With only a few hours to rest and recharge, the Otters looked ahead to a rematch with the Nickel City Bruins and the chance to be crowned Silver Stick champions.
In the final game of the tournament, both teams laid it all on the line and battled hard through the first two periods -- treating their fans to some fast-paced, nail biting action. With the score tied at two heading into the third, the Otters knew they needed to give it everything they had. Working as a team, the Huntsville Peewee’s scored twice in the final frame to take a two goal lead. But the Bruins were not going down without a fight. Answering with a goal of their own and bringing their team within one, the Bruins gained some last minute momentum. But it was too little too late, and with time running out, the Otters sealed their victory with an empty net goal and a 5-3 final tally.
Congratulations to the players and coaches on a well-deserved Silver Stick Championship!
Photo Credit: Tayler Horton