The Storm’s TD LL Atoms hosted their end of season MPS LL tournament.

Midgets headed to OMHA finals

Published March 6 2018

Congratulations to the Highland Storm Highlander and Smolen Family Dentistry Midget team as they advance to the OMHA finals. It was a clean sweep winning all three games against the Brighton Braves. The semifinals began in Minden Friday March 2 and the Midgets shut out the Braves 4-0. The Storm team wasted no time and took control of the game early in the first period dominating the plays. The give and go action from Boice and Patterson-Smith found open Owen Smith to complete the job with a goal. The back and forth action made for great entertainment. Late in the first Boice created the scoring opportunity for Patterson-Smith and he chipped in the second Storm goal. The Midgets kept the pressure on and took advantage of the power plays to make it a 4-0 win. Dollo’s point shot was picked up by Patterson-Smith. He manoeuvred around the opponent’s net and waited for the right time to feed Boice who top cornered it. Later in the period Jacob Haedicke held the line and made a quick pass to Flood who nailed in the last goal. A great start and shut-out for Smolen. The next day they travelled to Brighton and stifled the Braves 4-1. The Braves managed to get on the scoreboard in the first period. The Storm brewed and responded in the second with a shot by Flood and Boice picked up the rebound making it a 1-1 game. Shortly after Gilbert deflected Jacob Haedicke’s shot now 2-1 Storm. The Storm turned it up a notch in the third. Owen Smith drove the puck into the opponents’ zone and found Boice ready to widen the gap to 3-1. Late in the third period the Storm capitalized on a power play. Jacob Haedicke snapped a quick pass to Patterson-Smith and his keen eye made it 4-1 and that ended Game 2.
The Storm team finished the series Sunday March 4 with a well-earned 3-2 victory. A do-or-die game for the Braves made it action-packed and tough one for the Storm. Late in the first Boice picked up Gilbert’s shot and found the open top corner. Minutes later the Braves answered back ending the first period 1-1. It was an intense second period as both teams played hard for the go ahead goal. Storm team captain Patterson-Smith did his magic to deke out the defence and find the opening ending the second period 2-1 for the Storm. Early in the third the Storm gave the Braves a power play and the tying goal. End-to-end action continued. With less than a minute left in the game the Storm team went on the attack. Owen Smith chipped in the goal with help from Boice and Patterson-Smith. A huge applause to the entire Storm team they all played an awesome weekend of hockey.
Submitted by Suzanne Haedicke

On Friday March 2 The Cottage Country Building Supplies/Ridgewood Ford Highland Storm Atom A’s hosted the Frontenac Flyers for the first semifinal game.
The game started with a goal by the Frontenac Flyers but with only minutes left Cheyenne Degeer got her first goal of the night. Going into the second the game was tied at one goal each but Frontenac got a two-man advantage and scored. Then Frontenac scored another goal near the end of the period. Going into the third the score was 3-1 Frontenac. The third period was a busy period. Addison Carr scored early followed by a rocket goal from the blue line by Beckam Reynolds. The game was tied but not for long. Frontenac scored three goals in a row and the score was 6-3 Frontenac. The Storm were not done though. Cheyenne Degeer scored her second goal making it 6-4 but with a minute left Frontenac scored and the final score was 7-4 Frontenac.
On Saturday March 3 the Atom A’s hosted the Frontenac Flyers for Game 2 of the semifinal game.
The first period was a battle between both teams and was scoreless. The second started with two goals by Frontenac but Addison Carr danced one into the net and Joshua Scheffe scored a beauty goal at the front of the net tying the score going into the third. For the third period these two teams had everyone on the edge of their seats. It started with an early goal by Frontenac followed by Carr scoring. But Frontenac answered with two goals in a row. There was only a minute left the Storm took a time out and got themselves ready to take this game back. And that is just what they did. Carr scored his hat trick goal and then Joshua Scheffe scored an amazing goal with only seconds left.
This game was going into a 10-minute sudden death period.
This sudden death did not last long as there was an early scramble at the front of the net and Joshua Scheffe scored his hat trick goal and the game winner.
Highland Storm won 6-5.
The series is now tied one game apiece.
The Cottage Country Building Supplies/Ridgewood Ford Highland Storm Atom A’s travel to Frontenac to face the Frontenac Flyers for Game 3 and 4 of the semifinal playoff games on March 9 at 7 p.m. and March 10 at 2 p.m.
Submitted by Amber Card

The Canadian Tire/Parkview Dental Bantam girls Jets won their final game 4-0 on home ice against the Keene Wolverines. Throughout the fast-paced game the girls skated hard and displayed their precision passing skills great positional play and teamwork. Halfway through the first period Kennedy Croskery started off the Jets’ scoring with a beautiful raised five hole goal assisted by Haley Goulet. Early in the second Ryan Rupnow added another with a wicked wrist shot from the point assisted by Beth Brownlee. Near the end of the second Emma Tidey worked her way through the Wolverines’ defence and deked out their goalie with a skillful spin and backhanded the puck into the net unassisted. Halfway into the third Hannah McMann waited patiently in front of the net and her perseverance paid off with a goal and pass from teammate Goulet.
Bella Smolen had a fantastic game in net stopping many shots and shutting down the Wolverines.
The team will continue to practice hard as they prepare for the LLFHL Championships March 23 to 25 and provincials April 6 to 8. Both are played in Toronto. We wish the girls all the best in their hopes to bring home a medal after a successful season with only one loss two ties and the rest all wins. Smolen’s net minding skills and consistency between the pipes earned her 16 shutouts throughout the season. We are proud of you girls and how much you have grown individually and as a team both off and on the ice. Good luck!
Submitted by Linda Goulet

The Tom Prentice and Sons Trucking Tykes finished out their 2017/2018 season on the weekend of March 3 and 4. On Saturday they travelled to Madoc to play a double-header against their rivals the Centre Hastings Grizzlies. The fans were treated to the Storm’s best most competitive games of the season. Early in the first period Ethan DeCarlo bats the puck away from the Grizzly player and Mason Latanville picks it up and scores. Next shift the Grizzlies go top shelf on Storm goaltender Carter Braun. Vanek Logan rallies back carrying the puck up the right side and goes blocker side for the goal. Luke Gruppe beats the goalie putting one in the back of the net.
Zach Prentice prevents a Grizzlies breakaway and Gruppe skates back but they manage to score. Early in the second Jack Tomlinson scores five hole. The rest of the period was scoreless until the final six seconds when the Grizzlies put one on the board. Braun had a busy third period where he made remarkable back-to-back saves over and over. The Grizzlies only manage to get one goal tying the game up at 4-4 at the end of the third. The Grizzlies take the game in a shootout. The players and their families were all treated to amazing hospitality by the Centre Hastings team who provided all with a wonderful lunch before heading out on the ice for Game 2. Tomlinson’s hard work earned him an unassisted hat trick but in the end the Grizzlies won 5-3.
The Storm faced the Parry Sound Shamrocks on Sunday. The entire team demonstrated great teamwork and sportsmanship throughout the game and ended their season with a well-deserved win. The entire team has come such a long way since beginning their Tyke season just months ago. They have been exposed to the great hockey fundamentals that they will use to carry on their success in the upcoming years both on and off the ice. A special thanks to the fabulous coaching staff and on-ice helpers Greg Scheffee Ben DeCarlo Corey Casey Shannon Prentice Brandon Logan and Josh Burk; you have all had a positive impact on the Tykes and they are forever grateful.
Submitted by Jessica Tomlinson

The Highland Storm Pepper Mill Steak and Pasta House Dollo’s Foodland Bantam A’s travelled to Frontenac Friday evening for Game 2 of the semifinals. The boys played extremely well the first two periods with Storm goalie Nate Miscio making some super saves and helping his team build confidence in front of a very large and boisterous hometown Flyer crowd. The boys went into the second intermission down 1-0 and the way they were playing a win could still be easily within their reach.
Miscio continued to shine in the third period even with a large group of Flyer fans standing behind him the entire game. Penalties continued to plague the Storm and unfortunately had to pay the price when the Flyers made it 2-0 on the power play with two minutes left. Desi Davies pulled the Storm within one with 64 seconds left but the Storm would go on to lose 2-1 and face elimination when the teams played again on Saturday.
Goaltender Ben Landry got the nod from the coaches to begin Game 3 for the Storm and like Miscio in Game 2 made numerous exceptional saves throughout the game. Storm captain Jaxon Gill scored early but the Flyers came right back to tie the game at one. The teams continued to exchange goals with Storm markers coming from Hunter Arnott and Sam Hoenow who finished off a nice pass from Cody Switzer sending the game deadlocked at three into the third period. The Flyers were rewarded a penalty shot with minutes to go and the Frontenac player scored on a pretty bar down wrist shot. Tyson Clements came through to tie it again at four with only three minutes left. Some chances continued at both ends with no result sending the game into overtime. Unfortunately the Flyers scored quickly in OT sweeping the Storm and eliminating the Highland boys from the playoffs.
Submitted by Gord Hoenow

The Storm’s TD LL Atoms hosted their end of season MPS LL tournament. Their first game found them facing off against their local friends (and rivals) the Storm’s Pharmasave LL Atoms. TD got off to an early start when Andy Lippolis won the faceoff and scored unassisted 11 seconds into the game. As the first period was drawing to a close Pharmasave’s Logan Reid setup Lara Gallant to tie the game at one. In the second TD got goals from Owen Sisson assisted by Toby Posti and Ethan Thomas. Then later in the second it was Thomas unassisted. Before Pharmasave answered with some hard work by Erik Bird and Lara Gallant in the corner to set up Logan Reid right in front to make it 3-2 TD going into the third. Pharmasave’s Erik Bird and Gallant were at it again this time setting up brother Haiden Bird with only five minutes remaining in the third bringing the game back to a tie three all. Then with close to two minutes remaining it was TD’s Olivia Gruppe passing up to Toby Posti who then circled the net twice before banking it in from behind the net off goalie Bryan Robichaud’s back. Final score 4-3 TD.
MVP- TD- Toby Posti
MVP- Pharmasave Bryan Robichaud
TD’s second game was against South Muskoka Fitzmaurice. It wasn’t till the second period that Ethan Thomas was able to open the scoring assisted by Eric Mueller and Toby Posti. It was clear that Fitzmaurice came to play but the Storm’s goalie Jacob Lloyd stood his ground and turned away all but one. Final score 1-1.
MVP- Toby Posti
After the round robin the B semifinal found the TD Storm vs Pharmasave’s Storm. The first period saw two Ethan Thomas breakaways resulting in a 2-0 end of the first period for the TD Atoms. The second saw chances at both ends but no score. The third saw a wild flurry of goals. Four goals in three minutes. TD got one from Posti assists to Max Chapman and Andy Lippolis. Then it was Pharmasave’s Bryant Medlar assisting a Lara Gallant goal. TD responded 20 seconds later with another Thomas breakaway resulting in parents and fans throwing their hats onto the ice. Just over two minutes later it was Haiden Bird setting up Gallant’s second of the game.
The final 4-2 TD.
MVP- TD -Adam Davis
MVP- Pharmasave Jacob Mantle
The Storm’s TD Atoms found themselves in a rematch of Saturday’s tie game against South Muskoka Fitzmaurice. Only this time it would decide the B pool champion. In a perfect start the Storm’s Max Chapman won the faceoff back to Olivia Gruppe who passed it up to Owen Sisson. Sisson went right at the net scoring 10 seconds into the game. Fitzmaurice managed to tie it up just before the end of the first. The second was scoreless but far from uneventful. Finally with eight minutes to go in the third it was the Storm’s Toby Posti on a great individual effort scoring to put the Storm up by one. Then minutes later it was Posti and Sisson at it again this time setting up Olivia Gruppe for her first goal of the season. The Storm’s goalie Jacob Lloyd stood on his head stopping Fitzmaurice as they tried to claw their way back into the game during final minutes. Final score 3-1 Storm.
MVP- Owen Sisson
Next weekend the LL TD Atoms play in the Glen Dart tournament in Haliburton.
Submitted by Jamie Lloyd

Well they did it! The Total Site Services Bantam Local League team travelled to Parry Sound for the MPS Tournament and came home victorious! It was a great weekend of team bonding and fun. We played five games and by no means was it a walk in the park. The team played like a team and we are all so proud of them. The MVPs of the games were as follows: Darian Maddock (our star goalie) Reese Casey (our captain) Cody Martin (slap shot king) and Nick Phippen (star centreman). There were so many moments but too many to mention them all. A huge thank you to our sponsor Total Site Service for their support all season. Thank you to the great group of parents who supported the players every weekend and a huge thank you to our coaches Darryl Winder Scott Coles James Raposo Greg Phippen and Jeff Martin this team has grown greatly because of your teaching. What a fantastic way to end our season.
Submitted by Kathy Martin