Erie North Shore Storms played great this week-end!!!
Erie North Shore Storm Atom Minors, sponsored by South Shore Dental,
at the Essex Early Bird Hockey Tournament
Game one versus Southpoint Capitals (Erie 9, Southpoint 1)
The Storm took to the ice sporting their visitors blues for the first time this season, and Hayden Carrier wasted no time getting comfortable putting the Storm up by a goal just 21 seconds after the drop of the puck. Southpoint added their own goal part way through the first, but that was quickly answered as Matt Bradfield scored on a wrap-around assisted by Heath McKee and Mckinnon Woolner. Jackson Ford entered the game with some new Brian’s equipment and went to breaking in the glove and blocker with some superb crease-play. The Storm extended their lead to three in the second period with two quick goals demonstrating some great team passing: Ethan Robinson assisted by Cole Dumouchelle and Alex Riddiford assisted by Caden Gomes and Kaden Brennan. The second finished as it started with three more quick goals. Cole Dumouchelle buried a pass from Shannon Olson and a minute later Olson took a pass from Heath McKee – toe dragging it around an unsuspecting defender – and found the back of the net himself. Dumouchelle tallied one more time before the end of the second with a nice defensive play in the offensive end setting himself up with a shot on net from the top of the circle. The third period had a back-and-forth tempo with few stoppages. Two whistles were needed when Erie goals were scored by Mckinnon Woolner on a feed from Matt Bradfield and another scored by Caden Gomes assisted by Alex Riddiford and Kaden Brennan.
Game two versus Riverside Rangers (Erie 6, Riverside 1)
The Storm looked to continue their offensive play in the second game of the tournament and it was Cole Dumouchelle with the initial hot-hands, scoring two goals in the first period the second assisted by Shannon Olson. It was Ethan Robinson’s turn in the second period as he tallied two of his own assisted by Shannon Olson , Kaden Brennan and Hayden Carrier. Matt Bradfield and Heath McKee combined for two goals in the third period, finishing the scoring for the Storm: Bradfield from McKee and then McKee with a nice pass from Mckinnon Woolner after a hard fought battle with a Ranger defender to get control of the puck.
Game three versus Orangeville Flyers (Erie 3, Orangeville 2)
Jackson Ford looked sharp in the crease during warm-ups and it was a good thing as the Flyers came out…well…flying. Jackson was forced to make four or five saves in the first minute of play to keep his team in the game and allowing them to refocus their defensive efforts. Erie gave up the first goal of the game – as well as allowing the first points by another team – as the Flyers scored with only 5.3 seconds left in the first period. In the second period, Erie had their chances but the puck just didn’t seem to bounce their way. But that was equaled by the missed opportunities the Flyers failed to capitalize on. The second ended without any offensive numbers put-up by either team. With parents and spectators on the edges of their seats, the third period seemed to kick-up a notch. The pace was fast, the battles along the boards and in the corners were tough. Cole Dumouchelle alleviated half the crowd’s tension by finding the back of the net with 5:51 on the clock. Orangeville answered quickly with a goal of their own, re-establishing a one goal lead at 4:21. But, with a man in the box, Orangeville turned the puck over to Heath McKee who’s rebound was buried by a net-crashing Shannon Olson just 12 seconds into the penalty. A minute later into the same shift, while his linemates were changing and contemplating a change of his own, Heath McKee fooled the Flyers’ goaler with a hard shot from just inside the blueline that seemed to have eyes of its own as it found a way through the Flyers’ goalie and into the net. The 3-1 lead didn’t last long and the tension returned as Orangeville scored with two minutes remaining in the game. Erie finished out the game short-handed, Jackson Ford preserving the win with another excellent performance between the pipes.
Game four versus Essex Ravens (Erie 5, Essex 2)
Game four found the tournament’s two top points-getters facing off against eachother; Essex leading Erie by just a point in the standings. Unable to clear the puck from their own end, Erie gave up the first goal of the game at the 4:27 mark of the first period. But, less than 40 seconds later, Cole Doumechelle put one to rest after he found himself in close on the Ravens goaler with a nice feed from Shannon Olson. Erie goalie, Jackson Ford, kept Erie dead-locked in a 1-1 tie at the end of the first with several stops in the blue-ice. Erie was given a powerplay opportunity early in the second period when an Essex defenseman took Erie winger Matt Bradfield hard into the boards; Bradfield would return without missing a shift. The penalty turned out to be a costly one for the Ravens as centre Caden Gomes beat the goalie top-shelf from the high slot. Gomes, just 17 seconds later and even strength, set up Kaden Brennan with a beautiful saucer pass that Brennan hit the twine with establishing a 3-1 lead. Essex was able to turn an end-to-end rush of their own before the second period was finished; 3-2. Matt Bradfield was able to hit Heath McKee with the puck in the Ravens’ zone as the duo teamed up to put Erie ahead 4-2 just 40 seconds into the third period. Cole Doumechelle provided the insurance goal that the Erie fans needed by fooling the Essex goalie with a high-floating knuckle-baller that found it’s way over the tender’s glove and into the back of the net.
The win allowed the Storm to finish tournament play undefeated, and points leader, going into the final; a rematch against Essex.
Game five – Tournament finals – Erie versus Essex (Erie 4, Essex 2)
It didn’t take long for the Erie Storm to let the Essex Ravens know they were there to play. The Storm scored only one minute into the game on a nice display of neutral zone passing between Shannon Olson and Cole Dumouchelle with Olson flipping the biscuit into the cupboard over the sprawled Essex tender. The remainder of the first period was a continuous frantic battle for possession and control of the puck without either team seeming to dominate the play. Erie goalie, Jackson Ford, made a pair of stellar saves early in the second resulting in a face-off to his right. He made an additional save off the defensive zone face-off and the rebound careened toward the blueline where Matt Bradfield picked it up and took it end-to-end fighting off a couple of Essex defenders to bury the puck giving Ford his first assist of the season at 7:41 of the second period. Essex would give Erie another chance to score near the end of the second period, but the Storm were unable to capitalize on the Ravens’ too many men on the ice penalty. The third period started in favour of the Storm 2-0. Essex came out hard catching the Storm on their heels twice in the first four minutes; 2-2. But, just inside the ten minute mark, Shannon Olson scored his second of the game on a poke-pass from Cole Dumouchelle who had jumped on an offensive zone face-off win by centre Ethan Robinson. That goal would stand as the go-ahead goal and eventual game-winner as Essex pulled their goalie with thirty seconds left in the game - to gain a two player advantage - with an Erie player in the penalty box. Ethan Robinson scored an empty-netter after a hard-fought battle in the Ravens’ defensive zone along the boards. The goal broke the quiet tension in the stands as the team killed the penalty and the last 14.7 seconds of the game. Erie won the game, and the tournament, with an impressive 4-2 win.
The tournament show-cased many positive messages for coaches, players and families of the Erie Minor Atoms. Jackson Ford was the crutch – time and again – as he was leaned upon for some spectacular saves at key junctures of several games; he didn’t disappoint. Matthew Branch provided some confidence in his back-up goalie role that the team certainly needed during the tournament and will continue to need as the season moves forward. Defensemen – unsung offensively but standing out in their defensive play and roles - Evan Fields, Josh Parks, Luca Quenneville, Hayden Carrier and Brendan Jenner all did a wonderful job of keeping the puck in front of them in the offensive zone and clearing the puck to the boards or out of their defensive zone and into the neutral ice. Their efforts deserved and received just as much praise from fans as the points-getters. And, finally, the team as a whole – extending to the parents and coaches of players – should be proud of the way the players have come together to play like a team. The boys from Harrow and Kingsville – Erie North Shore - are a rugged mesh of skill, position, grit and determination. Way to go Storm!