The
Novice Tri-County Championship Series was held last weekend. This would be the final test for the Mooretown
Storm as they attempted to complete the quest they started way back in
September.
The second place Petrolia Oilers were the opponents but Mooretown proved that all the hard work they had put in all season would not be wasted as they won the best of three Series, 2-0. They completed the Tri-County season and playoffs, a perfect 30-0 and received the banner that they had their sights on for most of the season.
I would like to provide my thoughts on what turned out to be a magical season for everyone involved.
At the beginning of the season, the coaches met with the players and clearly explained that the expectation was that the boys would work hard and that they would listen. It was mentioned to them that if they followed those two rules that they would become better hockey players. The parents were told the same thing and the coaches committed to teaching the players skills that would help them on the ice. After the first few practices nobody knew that this team would play the way they did all season. But the message never changed, work hard & listen. The regular season started and they started winning games, the team looked good, they had strong skaters. Excitement grew as the team continued to win but the message stayed the same with one change: work hard, listen & play as a team. Practices were filled with 2 on 1, 3 on 2, and passing it back to the point. They worked on breakouts and supporting each other. The boys kept taking it all in and executing it on the ice. (I call it the sponge stage).
Then our first tournament happened. The boys were jacked, ready to play anyone and win. But something happened – goals were hard to get, teams played tough defense – and the boys experienced their first disappointment of the season when they were knocked out in the round robin stage. They were devastated (I was in that dressing room). At the time, none of them realized that they had outplayed every team they played that tournament but just didn’t get the bounces. However, the coaches did a great job of passing that message along and it made them a strong TEAM.
The season continued and the team continued to develop. Players in new positions were getting it, the skills from practice were showing up in games, but best of all they played as a team. Playing hard as a team became the trademark of the Mooretown Tri-County. If one player wasn’t feeling well or needed help, his teammate was there. I believe the tournament at Christmas showed a lot a people that the boys were a team and win or lose, they would play that way. We joke about it now but there was a lot of people at the tournament and they were all talking about this team from Mooretown by the end.
The season continued and the focus shifted to completing the regular season undefeated. Each game became one more step to that goal. However, the back half our schedule was loaded with the stronger teams and the boys weren’t scoring as much. They found themselves down by a goal here and there. It would have been so easy for these young boys to try and skate around their opponents for the victory but they didn’t. They were a team and it was clear they were going to win that way. (Ever see a pass on a 2-0 breakaway? One of the most unselfish things I have ever seen, especially at this age.)
They reached their goal and finished the season undefeated and then the focus shifted to winning the championship banner. The expectations remained the same: (work hard, listen, and play as a team). The boys from Mooretown would not be denied the banner that they wanted and it all came to an end last weekend. 2013-2014 TCHL Playoff Champions !
It seemed like a long journey since September, but to see how a group of 7/8 year old boys could create such excitement amongst friends, family and people around them is amazing.
After a season like this, the question always seems to get asked, “who was the best players on the team?” and to that I don’t have an answer. What I do know is that when my son tells people about his hockey season this year, I always hear “My TEAM was undefeated” and “My TEAM won the championship banner” and to me that is more important.
Thank-you to the coaches, parents, and all the supporters of the Mooretown Tri-County for their hard work, listening, and teamwork through-out this season. The skills that were passed on to them certainly helped this season but Working hard, Listening and being part of a team never hurt anyone in the real world either.