Nov 10, 2014 | areynolds | 1405 views
Bantam LL2 dominate: CHAMPIONS!!!!
Congrats to our Bantam LL2 boys. Not only did they win the Woolwich Tournament against Oak Ridges in the championship game. They swept the tournament with a record of 5-0-0.
All of the players should be very proud of how hard they played, the team work and effort paid off!! Both goalies, N. Percy and D. Martins made many spectacular saves, recording 3 shut-outs and only allowing 2 goals against during the entire tournament. Special mention goes out to E. Constable as the semi-final MVP. He was chosen by our challengers, New Hamburg Huskies. M. Correa received the final game MVP!!! Way to go hawks!!!
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Unsure of many of their competitors the boys were uneasy before their first game. Early Friday afternoon they faced Oak Ridges #3, a team in SRLL. We faced Oak Ridges #2 before and pulled out a tie, but not facing this team in regular season, gave way to a bit of added excitement. Despite a slow start into the first period, they boys went on to win 6-1.
Game 2, Friday night, they faced a new opponent who was 3rd place overall in GRLL, New Hamburg Huskies. Definitely this team was the most talented and toughest they had faced yet this season. The boys were able to pull off a triumphant win, scoring 2 rapid goals in the third period, with a final of 2-0.
Game 3, the teams only Saturday game, would determine whether we finished first overall. The boys were nervous, but excited to play Twin Centre Stars. They started the game off strong to what seemed like a formidable opponent. After many amazing plays and continuous pressure on the defence and goalie, they scored their first goal with just over a minute left in the first period. The second period they saw one more goal. In the third it turned to a really rough game and the boys took many penalties. They played short-handed for most of the 15 minute 3rd, but they managed to score 3 goals for a final of 5-0. E. Constable was the game sniper, scoring a hat trick...a goal each period.
With this big win they placed 1st overall in their division, and of all 12 teams in the tournament. The semi-finals played at noon on Sunday. We faced that same tough team from Game 2, but the boys confidence was greater after finishing first overall and they were determined to make it to the finals. The first period remained scoreless. The boys came on strong in the second scoring 3 goals, and 2 more in the third, winning 5-0. The boys and staff jumped off the bench and congratulated each other on advancing to the finals. It was M. Correa's turn to walk away with a hat trick...
The other semi-final game was playing when the boys came off the ice, they stayed to see who their opponent would be. It was a rough game between Lucan Irish and Oak Ridges #1, the parents were hoping the Irish would pull off the win as we face Oak Ridges #1 in a few weeks in regular season.
The final game was at 4:45. The boys were quiet while getting ready for the game. They had spent the entire weekend together laughing, sharing moments of joy and accomplishment and truly bonding. It was over the last few days they became a brotherhood, and though quiet, you could feel their hunger for the win.
The first period saw many rockets from the blue line, over the weekend many of these rockets had stopped many skaters in their tracks, including one of their own. The game was high energy after M.Correa scored the first goal in the first. The boys kept possession of the puck most of the period, firing shot after shot. At the start of the second period the boys could taste the win, they dominated the second, scoring 7 goals. N. Fata collected a hat trick of assists and M. Correa managed to collect another hat trick. While short-handed at the end of the second, there was a scramble in front of our net and Oak Ridges snuck a goal in, their only goal of the game. . In the third, the boys took turns attempting new plays and even some new positions, scoring another 2 goals to take the championship 11-1 and sweep the whole tournament.
I do have to say a big thanks to our jersey sponsor Bryan, of Big Bryan & Son's Towing for being the loudest cheerer from the stands, and a close second goes to Brenda, hockey mom with heart!! They boys appreciated Bryan's encouragement as well...during the final game, each rally before the start of each period wasn't the usual "Hawks" but "Big Bryan" instead.
Congratulations to Bantam LL2, you should be proud!! Thanks to the parents who helped make this possible and the friends and family who came out to cheer for our boys and all of our valued sponsors...what a weekend, what a win!!