The
ENS Atom Minor Storm traveled to Woodstock this weekend in order to play in
the Regional Silver Stick A
Championship.
In Game 1 on Saturday morning the team faced off against the Burlington Bulldogs. The Storm outplayed their opposition in the first period as Burlington was able to get off only one shot. Kohen C made a hard drive to the net but was denied by the Bulldogs’ goalie. The first period ended with no score.
Bulldogs opened the scoring at 2:07 in the second. The Storm answered definitively with goals by Cale at 4:47 and Nico assisted by Cale with 1:41 remaining in the period. Ariana Q saved a fantastic shot near the end of the period to maintain a lead of 2-1 going into the final period.
The Bulldogs came out of the intermission on the attack and quickly scored after only 21 seconds. The teams battled back and forth throughout the 3rd period however regulation ended in a tie. In a five minute sudden death overtime, Nico S came screaming out of the penalty box to pick up a loose puck turn it into a breakaway only to be denied by the goal post.
The game had to be decided in a shootout with a minimum of 3 shooters. Ariana Q got the call to start and intimidated the first shooter enough that he missed the net. At the other end of the ice, Nico S blistered a shot short side past the goalie to go up 1-0. Cale M took the second shot and with a slick move beat the Bulldogs goalie over the pad to score. Ariana made a beautiful pad stop in our net to ensure the victory.
Game 2 action found the Storm pitted against Welland. The Storm controlled the pace of this game winning it 5-0 earning our starting goalie Colin R a birthday shutout. First period goals were scored as Nate M deflected a shot from Ty M, then Cole K and Cale M blasted passes from Owen Bu into the back of the net. The highlight of the period was Owen Ba chasing down a Welland player without his stick and clearing the puck from his zone using his skates. That’s dedication! Second period highlights included a goal by Cole assisted by Ty M and a timely backcheck by AJ D. Cale M scored shorthanded in the third after a memorable attack up the ice. Nick W put up a strong backcheck in order to fizzle any of Welland’s lingering hopes.
The Atom Minors came out slow in the third game against the Burlington Eagles and quickly found themselves behind 2-0 in the first period. Although Matteo R made a great pass to Nico S who shot on net at the buzzer, the Eagle’s goalie robbed him of the goal and the Storm went into the first intermission at a 2 goal deficit. They fought hard during the second period and finally got on the board with 45 seconds left when Cale (assisted by Michael H) put a beautiful move on the goalie to score.
After the intermission Burlington scored their third goal after only 40 seconds of play but the Storm would make a game of it as Michael H (assisted by Nate) powered the puck up the boards and roofed a shot over the keeper’s shoulder. Ariana Q made numerous saves to keep the Storm in the game, stretching to recover rebounds. Trying to make things happen, the Storm rushed into the Eagles end repeatedly in the final 5 minutes of the game. Ariana was pulled in the Final minute and we put on the pressure. Owen Bu and Ty H had beautiful shots from the blue line but the bounce wouldn’t go our way. Sadly it was all for naught as the Storm came up short 3-2.
Sunday morning found the Storm in the semifinals having finished 3rd after pool play. They were matched against the second place Woodstock Navy Vets. The Vets got off to an early lead on a deflected shot that caught Colin R going the wrong way. The Storm quickly tied it up when Ty and Nate connected passes with Cole staying with his rebound to score at 4:46. Colin R in net made fantastic saves and Nick W crossed over to the left side to stop a Woodstock attacker to carry their team into the 1st intermission tied 1-1.
Although the second period was scoreless the Storm put up some amazing plays including a dive in front of the net to stop a shot by Nico S and essential backchecks by Owen Ba and Ty M. Kohen C was key getting pucks out of our zone and deep into theirs. The third period belonged to the Storm. Cale M started the action as he ‘won the battle’ stole a puck from a Woodstock defender with such force that the D-man lost his stick. Cale skated around him and placed a perfect shot in the net to take the lead. Colin made an amazing glove save shortly after we had taken the lead. Nico S stole the puck on the boards skated in front of the net and placed a picture perfect backhand into the top left corner of the net to go up 3-1. The Storm would have to fight of a debatable penalty in the waning minutes of the game and Colin would go on to save a puck off his toe with only 20 seconds left in order to win the game and advance to the finals. The defensive unit was again a dominant force in a strong victory for the Storm.
The rematch was set….Storm vs the Burlington Eagles in a grudge match to avenge the loss of the previous night. Although the Storm controlled play in the Burlington end throughout the first period, it ended scoreless. The Storm got on the board when AJ D made a pass to Michael H who recovered his own rebound and made a diving behind the net pass to Nate M who buried the puck after gathering his own rebound. Colin R made his save of the tournament when he flashed his blocker and deflected a rocket wide of the net later on in the 2nd. The Storm went into the final intermission of the finals up 1-0 and looking for insurance.
At 2:21 in the third period Cole K stole the puck on the boards, outskated 3 defenders and got off a perfect shot in the top corner to put his team up 2-0. It was a lead that would not be touched as the Storm maintained its attack (Ty M breakaway and shot off crossbar). The Eagles would press but timely blocked shots by Ty H, Owen Ba and Matteo R would help keep them away from our net. A late penalty against us required all of the Storm’s tenacity and focus. We had to play over a minute 6 on 4 as the Eagles pulled their goalie and came out hungry to find the back of the net at least once. However heads up clears by Nick W and Matteo R helped to run down the clock and earn the Regional Silver Stick Championship and Colin R’s second shutout of the tournament. They have won a spot in the International Silver Stick to be held in Newmarket in January of 2015.
ALL IT TAKES IS ALL YOU’VE GOT. Bask in your victory Storm - you deserve it.