Pee Wee LL Win Arran-Elderslie Ice Dogs Tournament !!!, News, Peewee LL, 2012-2013 (Minto Minor Hockey Association)

This Team is part of the 2012-2013 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Nov 25, 2012 | Gord Jamieson | 2275 views
Pee Wee LL Win Arran-Elderslie Ice Dogs Tournament !!!
With sunrise on Saturday November 24,  we awoke to below freezing temperatures and the first snowfall of the year for mid western Ontario residents.  Time would tell if the weather change would also bring change to the fortunes of the Pee Wee LL Maddogs as they bundled up and headed north to the Chesley Arena to participate in the Ice Dogs Tournament.

Game #1 had Minto facing off against the home town Ice Dogs.  A flu bug idled Maddog Degroot so they were starting the Tournament down 1 key player.  Enthusiam was high in the dressing room as they headed onto the ice to play the home town team.  The Ice Dogs gained control of the puck from the face off circle and moved it into the Minto end.  A deflection off a Maddog defenseman’s stick infront of the net while trying to block a pass found the top corner of the net to give the home town Ice Dogs a 1-0 lead only 14 seconds into the first frame.  The Maddogs struggled to find their legs in the first period and when the buzzer sounded to the end the first, the home town Ice Dogs were on top of the scoreboard 1-0.  During the minute break between periods, the Coaches got the boys settled down and focused to start the second period.  The Maddogs found their legs and starting playing together making some great passes along with an aggressive forcheck to notch two goals within 25 seconds mid way through the second frame to take a 2-1 lead. The Ice Dogs kept coming and after a flury infront of the Maddog net late in the second period, notched their second goal of the game to even up the scoring at 2 all with only 18 seconds left. The Maddogs wouldn’t lie down and after winning the face off at centre ice pushed the puck into the Ice Dog end and after a flury of attempts got a goal with 1 second left in the 2nd period to retake the lead 3- 2.  The third period saw the play back and forth with both teams generating some excellent scoring opportunities.  Minto defenseman Eric Howells notched his first goal of the year with an end to end rush mid way through the 3rd frame to give the Maddogs a commanding 4 -2 lead.   Minto Maddogs went on to hold the 4-2 lead and win their first game in their first Tournament of 2012.

Game #2 was against the Falcons from Hanover and the Maddogs only had an hour to rest between games. In addition,  the nasty flu bug took out another player – Brayden Thorton mid way through the first game so Minto would play the Falcons down two Key players.  The Maddogs came out flying,  bringing the good passing and solid forcheck game to the Falcons in the first frame.  The Falcons took a couple minor penalties in the first and Minto was able to capitalize on one the man advantages with a goal to end the first frame with a 1– 0 lead.  Hanover settled into their game during the second period generating some good offense and scoring chances around the Maddog net.  Midway through the second period, the Falcons dumped the puck into the Maddog end and the bouncing puck handcuffed Bailey’s timing and found the back of the net to even up the score at 1 apiece.  When the buzzer sounded to end the second period, the score was tied 1 all.  With both teams playing well and puck time fairly even, the third frame would prove to be an exciting period.  The play was back and forth with some strong aggressive play by both teams in an attempt to give their team the lead.  Midway through the 3rd frame,  the Falcons took a hitting from behind penalty which proved to be the difference maker.  The Maddogs rallied around this hit and being on a powerplay,  played the best couple minutes so far in the tournament. Although not being able to capitalize on the powerplay,  they maintained their strong play and momentum  and found the back of the Falcons net at the 2 minute mark of the third frame to take a 2 -1 lead.  Less than 15 seconds later, the Maddogs would notch another goal to take a commanding 3 – 1 lead with only a minute and a half left in the period.  The Falcons fought to the end but the clock ran out of time and when the buzzer sounded, the Maddogs skated off the ice with a 3 – 1 score and a place in the A Championship Final.

The Maddogs would not know who they would play in the Finals until the of the next game.  After a Lunch break and some off ice rest,  the Maddogs were in for some news.  They would play the Seaforth Stars, their rivals from the WOAA Pee Wee central south division for the Championship but they would have Maddog Degroot in the lineup. In the dressing room getting ready for the final game,  that nasty flu bug would haunt the Maddogs again.  Maddog Rowley would be the next victim of the flu.  Maddog Rowley wasn’t going to let the Flu bug take him out of the action and wanted to be on the bench with his teammates.  The Seaforth Stars got on the scoreboard first at the 8:04 mark after banging a loose puck in the crease behind netminder Sinclair. The Maddogs would respond with two quick goals by James H only 10 seconds apart at the 6 minute mark to take a 2 – 1 lead.  Seaforth would not get rattled and after winning the faceoff at centre ice,  pushed the puck into the Maddog end. Goaltender Sinclair was unable a smother a loose puck in the crease,  the Stars got their sticks on it and notched their second goal to tie the game at 2 apiece 30 seconds later.  The strong back and forth play would continue into the second frame with Maddog Jamieson finding the top corner of the net with a terrific wrist shot on a breakaway to give the Maddogs a 3 -2 lead.  Maddog Rowley battling the flu bug,  setup Maddog Jamieson for the breakway opportunity.  Maddog Rowley and Jamieson would give the Maddogs a 4 – 2 lead 40 seconds later as Jamieson found Rowley along infront of the net with a pass that Maddog Rowley so neatly tucked up just under the cross bar on the Star Goalie’s glovehand side.  The Stars would counter 40 seconds later to cut the Maddogs lead to 1 goal.  Each team got themselves into some penalty trouble in the third period but their respective penalty killing teams were up for the challenge.  Neither team were able to score in the third and when the buzzer sounded,  the Maddogs came out on top with a 4- 3 win and the prestigious title of Arran-Elderslie 2012 Pee Wee Local League A side Champions

 

Each Player received a metal and the Team won a Trophy – check it out in the Trophy Showcase in the Arena on your next visit.

 

Scoring results for the Tournament

 

Conner Rowley – 4 goals and 2 assists, Travis McLean – 1 goals and 3 assists, James Hornowitz – 3 goals, Ian Jamieson – 2 goals and 2 assists, Andrew Mallett – 2 assists, Alex Durant – 1 assist, Eric Howells – 1 goal, Brayden Thornton – 1 assist, Jamie Paget – 1 assist and Gregory Ross – 1 assist

Congratulations Mad Dogs on a your 1st Tournament win !!

 

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