The Bancroft I.D.A / Canadian Tire Midget B Girls Jets travelled to Peterborough this past weekend to play in the Ice Kats Tourney. On Friday afternoon the Jets faced off against the Orillia Hawks in the first of three round robin games in pool play. The Jets took a 1-0 lead with just seconds left in the first period when Kenndal Marsden tucked in a shot during a goal mouth scramble past the Hawks tender. Kelsey Maracle gave the Jets a 2-0 lead early in the second period with a slap shot from the top of
the circles that eluded the Orillia net-minder. The Orillia Hawks made the game close scoring a 2-1 marker off a defensive zone turnover midway through the second period. Both teams continued to battle with the Jets having an edge in scoring chances but the score remained 2 -1 for the Jets.
On Saturday morning the Jets took on their league loop second place rivals – Cold Creek Comets in their second game of round robin play. Having never beaten the Comets (0-1-1 in league play) the Jets ramped up their level of play to take on the challenge of Cold Creek’s aggressive and physical play. Katie Funk finished off a feed from Kenndal Marsden late in the first period sqeaking one past the Comet tender to give the Jets a 1-0 lead which proved to be all they needed. Late in the second period the Jets scored an unanswered 2-0 tally on the power play with Erin Kavanagh’s wrister from the point. Both teams continued their up-tempo play but the scored remained 2-0 for the Jets. Katie Hoover shut down the Comet snipers in the shut-out win.
Needing a win tie or a even a loss (by less than three goals) the Jets faced off against the Etobicoke Dolphins in their last game of their pool play on Saturday night to try and secure a first place finish against a second place finisher in the other pool for the Sunday semi-finals. The Jets finally broke the scoreless tie early in the third period with Danielle Sunstrum capitalizing on a hard fore-check. Sunstrum and Sydney Feir’s pressure resulted in the game winning goal where Sunstrum tucked it in off the post behind the sprawling Dolphin tender. Etobicoke tried to answer with a tying goal by pulling their goalie for an extra attacker but Sunstrum solidified the win with an empty netter with seven seconds left in the game. Hoover earned her second consecutive shut-out and the win gave the Jets a perfect 3-0 record in their pool and a semi-final match-up Sunday morning against Nepean Wildcats in Warsaw.
On Sunday morning the Jets hit the ice against the Nepean Wildcats in the must win semi-final.The Wildcats put the Jets to the test but neither team could find an answer to their opposing tender. After a scoreless first period Nepean gained a 1-0 advantage midway through the second period with a bouncing puck that found its way into the net after
ping-ponging off a number of players in the goal mouth. The lucky goal seemed to spark the Wildcats as they ramped up their play frustrating the Jets in all zones on the ice. Penalty trouble by the Jets in the third period allowed Nepean to put the game out of reach with two power play tallies and advance to the midget B finals against the Cold Creek Comets who they defeated 4-2 to win the Peterborough Tourny Midget B division.
The Jets are on the road for their last two games in 2015 Dec 13 in Ennismore and Dec. 19 against Cold Creek with their next home game not until the New Year where they will host Cold Creek back in Bancroft on Sunday afternoon Jan. 3 at 2 p.m.
Submitted by Dan Marsden
The Walkers Heating and Haliburton Health Team Highland Storm Peewee AE’s travelled to Gravenhurst this past weekend to play two games against the South Muskoka Bears.
The first game started quick for the Storm as Tyler Martin scored five minutes in. The Storm played probably their best period of the season with sustained pressure throughout the opening frame limiting South Muskoka to only a few harmless shots from the perimeter. The Bears did manage to score in the second with the help of a “seeing eye puck.” The Bears then scored a power play goal to take their first lead of the game. Kolby McGovern tied the game once again on a highlight reel bar-down backhander. Both teams battled it out for the remainder of the game exchanging goals throughout. Storm goals were from Brendan Coumbs and Tyler Martin with two more to notch the hat-trick. Nathan Miscio made a glorious glove save with only a minute to go to keep the score tied 5-5 till the final buzzer sounded.
Player of the game – Tyler Martin and honourable mention to trainer Jeff Martin who didn’t miss a beat … even with his arm in a sling.
Sam Hoenow scored three minutes into game two on a backhander through the five-hole. Owen Harrison made it 2-0 near the end of the first when he recorded his first of the season on a high wrist shot blocker side. The Bears responded immediately off the faceoff on a nice shot that just beat goalie Nathan Miscio inside the post. In the second period Zach Davis playing excellent positional hockey found himself in the right spot to slide one past the Bears goaltender to restore Highlands two goal lead. The Bears scored again with only 30 seconds left in the second but Tyler Martin returned the favour giving the boys a 4-2 lead heading into the final frame. The Bears scored on a dribbler five minutes into the third and then popped in another a minute later to tie the game 4-4 forcing Storm coach Andy MacMillan to call an early timeout to get his squad regrouped. The strategy worked as the Storm would get the winning goal with two minutes left when grinding winger Kolby McGovern’s efforts paid off on the power play to make it 5-4 and help the Storm savour an undefeated weekend.
Players of the game – the defence pairings of Cody Martin/Mathias Lee and Tim Turner/Ben Robinson.
The team travels to Huntsville this Saturday to play the Huntsville Otters.
Submitted by Gord Hoenow
On Saturday Dec. 5 the Tom Prentice and Sons/RM Carpentry Highland Storm Tyke team played in the Woodville Tyke tournament. The first game of the day was against Woodville where the Storm dominated play from beginning to end resulting in a 9-0 Storm win. Strong passing shooting and skating led to many offensive chances and many assists. First goals of the season were scored by Evan Jones and Parker Simms. The player of the game for the Storm was Parker Simms.
In their second game of the tournament the Storm faced Brock. This game was a much better test for the Storm. After a very close first period the Storm found their groove and ended up having too much scoring power for Brock. The final score ended with the Storm on top 6-2. The player of the game was Jace Mills who led the offensive attack with a hat trick.
With two wins under their belt the Storm Tyke team was off to the A final to play Barrie. The Storm team trailed early but battled back to defeat Barrie 11-4 and took home the gold. The player of the game was Connor Byrne who played excellent defence and also added to the offensive tally. A great first tournament for the Tom Prentice and Sons/RM Carpentry Highland Storm Tyke team. Every Storm player had an assist or goal over the course of the day for a full team effort. Superb goal tending by Chase Winder led the team to victory. Way to go Storm! Tyke team members are: Brady Burtch Connor Byrne Liam Harrison Evan Jones Brechin Johnston Vanek Logan Caleb Manning Jace Mills MacLean Rowden Josh Scheffee Parker Simms and Chase Winder. The Tyke team is coached by Darryl Winder assistant coach Ritchie Mills and trainers Sean Byrne and Greg Scheffee.
Coming off their tournament win on Saturday the Tom Prentice and Sons / RM Carpentry Highland Storm Tyke team hosted the Muskoka Rock on Sunday Dec. 6 in Haliburton. The Storm opened the scoring first and remained dominant the rest of the game. In front of a big crowd the Storm went on to win the game 13-2. Many Storm players added to the tally and the player of the game went to Josh Scheffee. Way to go team! The puck dropsnext Saturday in Port Carling where the Storm will face off against the Muskoka Rock again for a rematch. Good luck Storm.
By Janice Scheffee
The Dollo’s Foodland and Smolen’s Dentistry Highland Storm Midget A team Storm took to the road this past weekend to participate in the Regional Midget Silver Stick Tournament in Pembroke. The tourney kicked off for the Highlanders late Friday night against the Gananoque Islanders who came out of the gate flying and built a 3-0 lead through two periods over the lead footed Storm. The second period featured a rare penalty shot called against the Storm that was turned aside by goalie Parker Smolen. In the third our locals found their legs and a spectacular end-to-end rush by Jaydon Wood got the gray and blue on the board and two more goals followed the first by Paydon Miscio and the tying score by Owen Patterson-Smith to end the game knotted at three.
Early Saturday morning the Storm went up against the RWC Crusaders from the Ottawa region. The Highlanders full of energy created many offensive chances in a tight defensive affair with Matt Manning capitalizing to give Haliburton a 1-0 lead in the first. In the second period the home side continued applying pressure with Jon Morrison putting the Storm up 2-0 but before the frame expired RWC finally solved the solid goaltending of Ethan Howe on a power play to cut the lead in half to 2-1. The third period found the Storm on their heels holding off the Crusaders who eventually evened it up with just over three minutes left and the second game ended in a 2-2 tie.
Saturday evening the Haliburton squad went up against the tournament hosts Pembroke Lumber Kings. The first period found both sides playing a cautious defensive style as a loss would eliminate either team from the tourney. A Pembroke turnover gave the Storm the break they were seeking and a feathered feed from Jaydon Wood to Paydon Miscio put Highlanders up by one after the first. In the second the tight checking tense match continued with the Lumber Kings tying it up 1-1. The third persisted in the same manner with both teams having a few chances but host Pembroke scored the go ahead goal with 53 seconds left to puncture the Storm’s chances and win the game.
The midget team played a great defensive tournament only allowing seven goals in three games against opponents across the region who they had not previously encountered. The defence continues to hone their skills and Ryan Hill had an outstanding tourney playing in key defensive situations and an integral part of the team only allowing seven goals along with goalies Smolen and Howe. This weekend they have two home games in Haliburton Friday night at 8:30 and Sunday at 3:30.
Submitted by Dave and Katie Howe