The boys would head to Strathroy for their first tournament of the year with hopes that they could challenge for a medal against some feisty opponents.
Game 1 vs East Lambton Eagles
Although both teams seemed to be evenly matched on the ice, the Eagles would take the game by a score of 2-0. East Lambton seemed to have a slight advantage over the Storm with their more physical play, however, Mooretown would get some quality chances from their power forwards but just couldn't put it past the netminder. Some mistakes by the Storm would not make it any easier for them to take away a win and unfortunately they would have to shake off the loss before their next game later in the day.
2-0 loss
Game 2 vs Wallaceburg Lakers
The Storm would face a local rival but would respond well to their friendly foe. Oliveira and Dunn would set the tone early marking two within ninety seconds of the opening faceoff. Plain would strike again for Mooretown to make it a 3-0 game. The team could however not overlook Wallaceburg's tenacity as they would bite with less than 30 seconds left in the period to cut the lead.
The Lakers would come out hard in the middle frame taking Passingham and Villenueva out of the game with some tough hits. The Storm would continue playing defensively but it was obvious that the pendulum had swung in Wallaceburg's favour with our boys becoming hesistant to counter back with the same physical play. Mooretown hung in there though despite some controversial refereeing to take the game as a win.
3-1 win
Bronze Medal Game vs Wallaceburg Lakers
As luck would have it, a rematch of game 2 would be played out in the finals. Villanueva and Passingham would be back in action after some R and R but the team would lose Dunn who was in sick bay.
Early in the first, both teams seemed to be finding their way playing cautious hockey trying to prevent a early blowout from overrunning the match. Shaw seemed to be in his groove making some quality saves while our forwards were countering back with some punch of their own. Oliveira would land the first jab of the round with a shelf shot beating the Laker goalie quite handily. Molson and Villanueva would be his ringmates on the goal. Shortly thereafter, Shaw would kiss the post of his net after a Laker shot from a breakaway resulting in that pinging sound that makes every goalie go "wow that was close". Not wanting to feel that pressure again, he would trip up a Laker who was breathing down his neck and take one for the team sending a teammate to the box. The Storm would respond well on the PK with the floodgates opening up for some physical play. Passingham, Plain, and Raymond would become the Timber Trio watching their opponents fall like logs from the work of their shoulders. Mooretown would kill off the PK and with their newfound grit take that momentum into the second period.
The period would play out quite evenly. Both sides were getting chances and the goalies kept the teams in the hunt. Unfortunately though, Wallaceburg would strike with less than a second left on the clock to tie the game.
Shaw would make the save of the game early in the 3rd with a stop on a Laker shot and then a quick slide to swallow up the rebound. Plain would get a superb chance at the other end but it was a battle of the goalies and neither was going to be beat easily. Time was winding down and the fans knew it was anybodys game to take away. In the dying seconds, Dumoulin would grab the puck and bust through the Laker defence bringing the fans out of their seats. All alone in front of the goalie, he would deke and go backhand.....just wide but with a solid A for effort. The Lakers D would then grab it up and pass up ice for a breakaway against Shaw. Villenueva was in chase and it seemed that the shot would be taken....but the buzzer would go to end the game destined for OT.
It would be 3 on 3 OT and most everyone knew the game would be decided in the next 5 minutes. Two shifts of OT would play out with some chances on Shaw but he continued his top notch play. The next faceoff would bring out Oliveira, Coene and Plain. The puck would make its way in to the Wallaceburg zone where Coene would find the opportunity to slap it towards the net. The stop would be made but the rebound would provide a chance for Plain. Again, no goal but with the opportunity still there, Devon Oliveira would grab it, skate it out front, and ever so gently curl it around the goalie to win the game!
The boys would swarm Shaw and ultimately take home the bronze medal from fighting hard through some adversity in previous games and playing to their potential in this final match. Good work boys!
