Erie North Shore Storm Bantam Minors - Oakville Tournament, News, Minor Bantam, 2014-2015 (Erie North Shore Minor Hockey)

This Team is part of the 2014-2015 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Feb 14, 2015 | sbaia | 1515 views
Erie North Shore Storm Bantam Minors - Oakville Tournament
The Storm travels to Oakville over the Christmas break for the Richard Bell Memorial Tournament.

Game 1: 12/28/2014 - Storm vs. Grimsby Peach Kings
The Bantam Minors travelled to Oakville over the Christmas break to participate in the Richard Bell Memorial Tournament. They knew it would be a tough game ahead against the Peach Kings but had no idea that the officials would let it get so out of control. Goalie Connor Axford took his turn in net and the team prepared for battle. Already playing with a short roster the Storm new they had their work cut out for them. In the first Grimsby managed to get on the board with two goals, one while on the powerplay as the Storm attempted to kill the only penalty called in the period. The second period saw things get ugly with the two teams accumulating an unbelievable twenty penalties between them and Storm defenseman Donny White sustaining a back injury from a huge hit, taking him out of play for the rest of the tournament. Before the period was over a frustrated Storm head coach Jay Pickle was ejected from the game after pleading with the refs to get the game under control. With the coach gone the refs looked for any excuse to send the Storm to the box, with Kristian Pelling and Rebecca Misiasz on the receiving end of three penalties apiece. The third was a little better with Owen Stannard receiving the only penalty in the period and his second of the game. Unfortunately all the Grimsby powerplays and biased calls took their toll on the Storm and the team took their first loss of the tournament.
After the game the team headed back to the hotel, and then gathered together to go play some mini-putt golf. All the kids had a blast as they spent the afternoon playing through 18 holes of neon-lit golf! Afterwards it was back to the hotel for more mini-sticks!

Game 2: 12/28/2014 - Storm vs. Oakville Rangers White
Later in the evening the Storm returned to the ice to play against the host team Oakville Rangers. With assistant coach Mark Hernandez taking the place of suspended coach Jay Pickle on the bench the team prepared to face another strong opponent. The Storm bench was now short three with injured player Donny White watching from the sidelines. Goalie Nate Jacobs took his place between the pipes and the Storm hit the ice. Both teams fought hard defensively throughout the first resulting in a scoreless period, and thanks to new officials no penalties were called. In the second the Rangers managed to get two past goalie Nate, the first while on the powerplay, with the Storm unable to answer those goals. In the third with a two goal deficit the Storm took action as Hunter Dufour fired one past the Oakville goalie assisted by Declan Handley and Colten Pavao. The Storm tried hard to tie things up before the end of the period but were unable to take advantage of several powerplay opportunities. Going into the third the team fought hard to beat the goalie but couldn’t get another in the net and Oakville sealed their fate by scoring once more at the two minute mark ending the game in a 3-1 loss for the Storm. It was another tough loss but the team played hard against a very strong opponent.

Game 3: 12/29/2014 - Storm vs. Burlington Bulldogs
The next morning the Storm headed back to the arena to face the Burlington Bulldogs. With coach Jay back on the bench but still a short roster the team prepared to face another tough GTA team. Nate Jacobs took his place in net and the team took to the ice hungry for a win. Their hard work and determination was rewarded when the Storm got on the board first with a goal by Colten Pavao and Daniel Price earning the helper. There was no more scoring through the rest of the first and all through the second periods with minimal penalties called as both teams fought hard for the puck. The third period was a nail-biter as the Storm fought off four penalties and the Bulldogs tried their hardest to tie things up. Finally right at the one minute mark Storm captain Franco Shaften earned an unassisted insurance goal ending the game with a 2-0 victory for the team! Goalie Nate Jacobs earned the shutout with Colten Pavao getting the game winner in the first period. It was a great game played with a lot of passion by the entire team!

Game 4: 12/29/2014 - Storm vs. Credit Valley Wolves
Later that evening the Storm took to the ice against the Credit Valley Wolves. This was a make or break game that would determine if the team would be playing in the finals. Goalie Connor Axford took his turn in net and the Storm prepared for battle. In the first period the Wolves managed to slip two into the Storm net but then seconds before the buzzer Hunter Dufour got the Storm on the board scoring off a pass from Franco Shaften. In the second it looked like the period would end without either team scoring but one second before the buzzer the Wolves scored giving them a two goal lead going into the third. The team played hard but the third was very one-sided with the refs providing the Wolves with numerous powerplay opportunities allowing them to score three more times. Nate Jacobs played the last half of the third period in net for the Storm and unfortunately the team was unable to turn it around finishing the game and the tournament with a 6-1 loss.

While the Bantam Minors came away from the tournament with only one win, they still had a great time together and became a much stronger team after playing against so many powerful Toronto area teams. Great effort by all Storm!