The
Atom Minor Storm team travelled to Ann Arbor, Michigan, this past weekend for their first road trip of
the season, with mini-sticks in hand.
However, the sticks used on the ice did the most damage as the Storm won all four games and earned the championship. Friday afternoon, they faced the Chelsea Chiefs to open the tourney. The Storm put up three in the first period and four more in the second, as they cruised their way to a 7-1 victory. Tommy Coughlin and Brock Bezaire each netted their first goals of the season, while Ben Buchner and Reyth Smith potted two goals each to go with a tally from Elijah Pezzotti. Assists went to Ashton Sim, Nevan Branco and Marshall Champeau with two each and Sage Batke, Hayden Nurse, Noah Dufour, Coughlin and Smith each had one.
Early Saturday morning, the Storm played at Yost Arena, home of the University of Michigan Wolverines hockey team. Although the parents may not have been fully awake for the 7:15 am game, the kids certainly were. Buchner put the Storm on the board 12 seconds into the game to pave the way to an impressive 11-4 victory over the Lakeland Falcons. Champeau and Dufour each scored their first goals of the season, complimented by hatties from Buchner and Sim. Single tallies went to Pezzotti, Smith and Branco. Setting up the goal scoring frenzy were Coughlin and Dufour with four helpers each while Smith had three and Batke with two.
Later on Saturday afternoon, the Storm would take on the Fort Wayne Komets from Indiana in a very physical contest. Although the big Komet gang tried to intimidate the Erie North Shore squad, the Storm would not back down. Dufour started off the scoring mid-way through the first period on a great individual effort, followed up by a Branco top shelf shot to take a 2-0 lead after the first stanza. Buchner pumped one 11 seconds in the second period on a great feed from Ava Merritt. Smith followed that up with a wrister setup by Hayden Nurse and Pezzotti. However, the Komets continued to fight back, scoring two of their own to make it 4-2 after the second. Easton Jacobs made some keys saves in the third, keeping their opponents at bay until Sim from Batke and Buchner and Smith from Coughlin and Branco would put the game on ice with a 6-2 win, earning a place in the championship game.
Late Sunday morning, the Storm would have a rematch against the Lakeland Falcons. Similar to the first game against the Falcons, Buchner took the puck off the opening draw and went top cheese only eight seconds into the game. Branco followed that up with help from Pezzotti. Buchner would score again early in the second from Sim, but the Falcons would respond quickly, making the score 3-1 after two periods. It was back and forth action through most of the third period. The Falcons were a much better team in this game, especially in the final frame, but the Storm kept the lead thanks to some great glove saves from Gannon Hunter. Buchner scored his third of the game to give the Storm some breathing room with a 4-1 lead. However, the Falcons pushed back with the extra attacker and scored two quick goals in the last minute of play in the third period to bring them within one goal. The Storm stood tall for the last 15 seconds, winning the championship by a 4-3 margin. Ben Buchner was named tournament MVP. Strong play from the defensive corps of Merritt, Coughlin, Dufour and Champeau was key for the Storm’s success. Hustle on the backcheck from Nurse, Bezaire and Neil Adams cannot be overlooked. The parents and coaches are very proud of the team effort to achieve the championship and continue to be unbeaten on the season.