Shortly after 7:00 am on Friday December 27, the Pee Wee Rep Maddogs packed their hockey gear into the various vehicles, each smartly dressed in a shirt and tie, team Jackets and personalized toques, to begin the 2013 Kincardine Regional Silverstick voyage in Tiverton.
Friday was the first day for the Tournament and Minto was scheduled to play the first game of the “C” grouping at 9:00 am sharp against the Wingham Ironmen. Minto’s group placing would see them face the Arran-Elderslie Ice Dogs later on Monday followed with a 10:10 am start on Saturday Dec 29 in Kincardine against the West Grey Huskies to round out the round robin section of the Tournament. All these teams play in the northern WOAA division so this would be the first time playing each of team.
The Coaches came prepared with their white boards, playbooks and music to get the players focused on the games at hand. The Maddogs came out flying against the Wingham Ironmen, their strong passing and forechecking coupled with excellent defensive play and goaltending saw them take an early lead on Wingham and continue to build on it during the game. When the buzzer sounded, the Maddogs would win their first game by a 6-0 score. After a team lunch and some time to relax, the Maddogs would prepare for their 3:00 pm game against the Arran-Elderslie Ice Dogs. The Maddogs stuck to the same gameplan and it would prove to be successful for them as they defeated the Ice Dogs by a score of 7-1.
Saturday’s game was in the Davidson Centre in Kincardine where they would take on the West Grey Pee Wee’s. Although the game plan remained the same, whether it be the larger ice service or second straight day of Hockey, the Maddogs got off to a slightly slower start. By midway through the game, they were rolling and generated some excellent scoring chances but the West Grey Goalie was up to the challenge. When the buzzer sounded, the Maddogs were victorious over West Grey with 2 -0 win and go undefeated in group play. With still more than a days worth of games to be played, Minto would have to wait to see who they would face in the Semi Finals.
Sunday dawned and just before lunch the email arrived, the Maddogs had finished second overall in the “C” Division and would face the Drayton Defenders at 5:00 pm in Tiverton. Like the Maddogs , the Drayton Defenders had won all their games and finished in third place. The Maddogs had played Drayton early in the season in an exhibiton game which had been a really close scoring game so this would be a great semi final. Both teams came out flying creating good scoring opportunites, Minto would score the first goal closely followed by Drayton scoring their first to notch the game in a 1-1 tie. Playtime with the puck and scoring chances remained even throughout the 2nd and 3rd with Minto able to notch a couple couples late in the third period to overtake Drayton 4 -2.
The win over Drayton landed them into the Finals against the South Bruce Pee Wee’s. South Bruce had played very well so far in the tournament and had been able to hold their opposing teams off the scoreboard , earning four shutout games heading into the Finals on Monday. Fitting that the number #1 and #2 teams in the Silverstick “C” Division would face off in the Finals. With an excellent crowd in attendance to support both teams, the puck was dropped to start the “C” Final, the winner advancing to the International Silverstick in Forest. Both teams play a similar fast skating, good passing and strong forecheck style. The Maddogs were able to generate some excellent scoring chances but the South Bruce Goaltender was upto the challenge and their defencemen able to clear a lot of pucks quickly away from infront of their net limiting the number of quality rebound chances. When the buzzer sounded to end the second period, South Bruce had a 1-0 lead but it was anyone’s game with 15 minutes remaining. Minto had been called on a late penalty in the second period which would carry over to the third. Minto was able to kill off their penalty to start the third but momentum had shifted to South Bruce. They were able to capitalize on a couple scoring chances early in the third to take a commanding 3-0 lead. The Maddogs would show their true grit and heart by pushing the play to South Bruce, creating some two on one breaks and good scoring chances in the third, even hitting a couple of goal posts late in the period. South Bruce would defeat the Maddogs 3-0 to win the 2013 Silverstick Tournament.
Congrats Maddogs on playing 5 terrific games of Hockey and being “C” Division Finalists - be proud of your success, you treated everyone watching some terrific hockey to watch.