Congratulations to the Minor Atom Lakers on their first Tournament win!!!
Dec. 28th: The Minor Atom AAA Lakers ventured to the Vic Teal Invitational AAA tournament in St. Catherines, in what was a tough start to the tournament sd the Lakers faced off against the Burlington Eagles who came out strong with four quick goals and put the Lakers on their heels. The Lakers could not recover and were handed a 7-2 loss to open the day. Providing some offensive punch, Tyler Hotson and Kaden Hoggarth scored with assists going to Braeden McNaughton and Sheldon Pryce.
Next up the Lakers faced the Niagara Stars. After battling for a good 1st period the Lakers seemed a step behind and playing catch up two games in a row proved too much for them as Niagara made the final 7-1. The lone goal scorer for the Lakers was Hotson set up by Zac McCann.
Dec. 29th: With a brand new day upon them the Lakers awoke refreshed and energized knowing that they were in a must win situation. The Lakers five D ( McNaughton, Tate Gaylor, Jack Robinson,Kayden Schooley, Dakota Coultes) entered shut down mode and limited the scoring chances by the St Catherine Falcons and the Lakers came away from the must win with a 5-3 victory.
Leading the way with 2 G was McCann, Hotson 1 G 1A, Pryce 1 G, Alex Crowley 1 G, and even though these goals were scored on some beauty passing it appears the they were so good that the refs were in awe handing out on 2 other assist to Schooley and Robinson. But the ball was rolling with Max Newson recording the win.
With hopes of sneaking into 4th place and a berth in the playoff rounds the Lakers took on the Hamburg Hawks. Once again passing and solid D was the recipe for this game and the Lakers entered the playoffs with a 5-2 win.
Unfortunately a mysteriously missing game sheet was unable to account for all the goal scorers, but 1 goal scorer was Mason Weber as coach Kints guaranteed that "his stick would score today". McCann added another on an excellent passing play from Hotson to Ethan Hewitt to McCann
Dec 30th: With the Lakers entering the semi finals they would once again see the dangerous Burlington Eagles in a rematch of Game #1 of the tournament, with the stinging still fresh in the Lakers minds of the 7-2 earlier loss Goaltender Dylan Kints was called upon early and late in this game, Just 3 minutes into the game the Eagles' captain was sprung in alone and was turned aside on the breakaway which seemed to be a huge lift for the Lakers team. As the 1st 2 periods ended in a 0-0 draw, the 3rd period loomed with the Lakers unable to capitalize on a 5 min PP, but all that would change with 5:17 left in the 3rd. Schooley lead a rush from the Lakers own end and beat 4 Eagles along the left side and with a "no look" amazing pass to McCann that made no mistake going bar down. That goal was all the Lakers would need as Kints turned aside the 16 shots he faced in the 3rd to preserve the shutout.
Now with only St Catherines standing in the way of the Lakers championship after they beat Niagara in their semi finals, the dressing room was loud and every player was ready for this opportunity before them. The Lakers jumped out 3 minutes into the game with some great D to D passing from Gaylor to Robinson up to McCann to open the scoring. The Lakers struck early again in the 2nd when Hotson scored 2 minutes in from Hoggarth and Coultes. 4 minutes into the 3rd the Falcons finally solved Kints and stopped his shutout streak at 77 mins and 16 sec and brought the Falcons to within 1 but less than 1 minute later Schooley scored with a bullet from the point to restore the 2 goal lead from McCann and Hoggarth, McCann would seal the victory with a solo effort and give the Lakers the 4-1 Championship win. The championship was won on pure effort and special mention needs to go out to the Bobby Leis and Crowley for the tireless backchecking efforts and great play of the D corp that has been hobbled by injuries.
2011 Vic Teal Minor Atom AAA Champions!!!!!!!