Bantam

On Friday the Highland Storm Pepper Mill Steak and Pasta House and Dollo’s Foodland Bantams hosted the Lindsay Muskies. The Muskies scored in the first period which was quickly answered by a goal from Ty Mills assisted by Jackson Wilson. In the second period the Muskies scored again. The Storm answered back with a goal by Colby McGovern assisted by Mills. In the third period the Muskies scored again taking the lead. With two minutes left on the clock the Storm’s Kaine Brannigan scored assisted by Gage Hutchison and Ty Mills. The Storm were able to keep the Muskies at three while continuing to battle at the Muskies net right to the last second but were unable to take the win ending the game in a 3-3 tie.

On Saturday the Storm travelled to Millbrook to play the Millbrook Stars. The Storm had a difficult time getting past the Stars’ defence. The Storm were able to hold the Stars at one for the whole first period. Darion Maddock had an outstanding night in net making at least 30 saves. Multiple times Maddock’s legs were like the paddles in a ping pong arcade game with the puck being saved off his right pad then left then a quick catch in his glove. Maddock was on his toes keeping the Stars at three.

Next up the Storm travel to Huntsville to play the Huntsville Otters on Dec. 22.

By Jessica Lloyd

Midget

The Highlander and Ed Smolen Family Dentistry Highland Storm Midget team had a busy weekend with back to back games. It was hockey night in Minden Friday Dec. 14 and the Midgets wiped out the Powassan Hawks 6-3. The Storm team came out strong and minutes into it MacNaull nabbed a goal. Shortly after Gilbert broke through the defence and top cornered the next goal. Seconds before the end of the period Vasey took a point shot Davies picked up the rebound and ended the first 3-0 for the Storm. The Storm continued to dominate in the second period. MacNaull picked up his second goal with a slap shot that made it 4-0. The Hawks managed to get a goal during a five minute power play later in the second. Shortly after still short-handed Haedicke won the faceoff to feed Gilbert he snapped a one timer in for a 5-1 game ending the second. The Hawks scored early in the third and made it a 5-2 game. The action continued. Haedicke started the rush fed Smith and he chipped in the goal. The Hawks got lucky on a breakaway and scored. That ended the game a nice 6-3 win for the Storm Midgets. The next day they travelled to Huntsville and took on the Otters it was a tough game from the start. The first goal went to the Otters while on a power play. The Storm team picked up the pace and MacNaull scored a wrap around goal 1-1. The Midgets worked hard and killed off a three-on-five power play. That boosted the Storm. Haedicke took off with lightning speed made a quick pass to Gilbert and he did his magic to find the open top corner. The Storm now winning 2-1. The Otters answered back loudly with three goals. The Storm team went into the third period down 4-2. It didn’t take long for them to close the gap while on a power play making it 4-3. MacNaull won the face-off fed Walker and he snapped it in. The intensity picked up. Gilbert began the rush took it behind the net and then found Haedicke waiting in front to secure the goal and the 4-4 tie. A great game played by the Midget team.

By Suzanne Haedicke

Novice

On Saturday Dec. 15 the Haliburton TimberMart/Haliburton Hockey Haven Sports Camp Rep Novice team hosted the Kawartha Coyotes at the A.J. LaRue arena in Haliburton. The Storm knew the competition would be tough. In the first period Henry Neilson scored the first goal for the Storm on a breakaway. During the second Neilson put another one in with the assist going to Isaac Trotter. Hot goaltending by Carter Braun and a solid defence held the Coyotes at bay. During the third Evan Perrott scored the third goal for the Storm assisted by Neilson to make the game 3-0 in what was up to this point a tightly played game by both teams. All of a sudden the Coyotes hit the gas pedal and the game turned upside down for the home team. The Coyotes scored six goals in the last eight minutes of the game resulting in a 6-3 loss for the Storm. Better luck to the team next Saturday in their away game against the Millbrook Stars.

By Sarah Gruppe

Tyke

The Tom Prentice and Sons/Walkers Heating and Cooling Tyke team had their first home game Saturday at the Haliburton arena against Muskoka Rock. Nixon Ecclestone and Kelson Bagshaw had no trouble finding the back of the net scoring a combined five goals in the first period. Storm kept up their momentum in the last period with six more goals scored by Matthew Mueller Rowan Johnson Brady Burke and Ecclestone. Storm goalie Jackson Robichaud played a stellar game only allowing Port Carling to sneak three goals in the Storm net.

By Marita Bagshaw

Midget LL

The LL Pharmasave Midgets played the undefeated South Muskoka Bears last weekend in Minden. The Bears opened the scoring on a low shot that found its way past a screened Nate Miscio. The Storm had a two-man power play at the end of the first and forward Brenden Newhook took full advantage tying the game early in the second. South Muskoka regained the lead a few minutes later when a player was left wide open in front of Miscio. Jayme Coltman had a strong second period with some excellent forechecking and rushes that almost turned into scoring opportunities. Miscio made a sweet kick save on a low shot just prior to Paul Turner tying the game for the Storm finishing off a rebound from a Newhook shot. The Storm found themselves tied at 2-2 with the league leading Bears heading into the final frame. Colin Crowe almost scored in close on the power play and then completed the job seconds later to put the Storm ahead for the first time. The Bears tied the game again on a strong three-on-one but Crowe came right back and popped in his second of the night which would eventually turn out to be the winner for the Storm beating South Muskoka 4-3.

By Gord Hoenow

Atom 1 LL

On Sunday the GJ Burtch LL Atom 1 team travelled to Bracebridge to face off against South Muskoka Middaugh Masonry. The Storm would be the first to score: a beauty by Eric Mueller assisted by Jacob Mantle. Twenty seconds later South Muskoka tied the game up five minutes into the first. It was clear that this game was going to be a battle.

The second period saw chances traded on both ends of the rink. The Storm’s goalie Jacob Lloyd made numerous timely saves to keep his team in the game. Sadie Evans-Fockler blocking shots Jacob Davis diving to chip the puck out of our zone a definite team effort was on display.

The Storm’s team approach began to pay off starting the third period. Isaac Borgdorff scored 35 seconds into the third assisted by Olivia Gruppe and Mantle. Minutes later South Muskoka answered back with a goal of their own tying it back up at two. The Storm did not back down. Thirty seconds later Mantle stole the puck skated through everyone and scored unassisted.

The Storm soon found themselves in the driver’s seat as Borgdorff scored his second. Then Eric Mueller got his second of the game assisted by Gruppe and Davis. Isaac Borgdorff scored his third of the period with only six seconds remaining. They did not stop working even once they took the lead. Great team effort. Final 6-2.

Three stars: Jacob Lloyd-Gottinger Jake Mantle Isaac Borgdorff.

Submitted by Jamie Lloyd

Midget Girls

Late afternoon on Saturday the team hosted the Keene Wolverines on home ice. The game was hard fought by both teams exchanging opportunities end to end throughout the game. The Jets took the lead early in the first. Ryan Rupnow unassisted skated the puck in from her defensive position came from behind the opponents’ net and started off the Jets with a beautiful back handed goal. Shortly after with a scramble in front of the Wolverines’ net Jaylin Frost was able to find the puck and tuck it in assisted by Victoria Shpikula. Halfway through the second period with the Jets short handed Gabbey Burnett unassisted stole puck at centre ice skated it in and deked Keene’s goalie. Top of the third with a precision pass from teammate Haley Goulet from the right corner in the opponents’ end Kendra Bandy scored the final goal of the game from the blue line with a shot bottom left corner. Final score in the nail biter game Jets 4 Wolverines 3.

On Sunday afternoon again on home ice the team took on the Ennismore Eagles for another exciting evenly matched game. Jules Croskery had the Jets’ lone goal of the game with a back-hander as a result of a scramble in front of the Eagles’ net. She was assisted by Liv Martin. The Jets’ held Ennismore the entire game but with only 1:57 remaining on the clock in the third the Eagles scored resulting in a tie 1-1.

The Jets next home game is this Saturday Dec. 22 at 3 p.m. against Cold Creek.

Come out watch the action and cheer the girls on!

By Linda Goulet

Atom A

On Saturday the Ridgewood Ford/Cottage Country Building Supplies Atom A’s faced the Ennismore Eagles in Haliburton. The game started off a strong pace going to end to end hockey with neither team giving up chances. Storm forward Josh Scheffee played all 200 feet of the ice with some strong back checking disabling any Ennismore shot attempts. Despite these efforts it wasn’t long before the Eagles had posted three goals on the board sending pucks to their waiting defencemen and strong rushes to the net proving too much for Storm defence. Getting the Storm on the board was Jace Mills who managed to get his stick on a Caleb Manning shot that eluded the minder. Later on in the game an Eagles’ clearing attempt was stopped at the blue line by Toby Posti who capitalized on their mistake with a slapshot sailing to the top corner bringing the Storm one goal closer to tying it up also making that Toby’s first of the year. Toby’s goal was assisted by Jace Mills and Josh Scheffee. After a few offensive zone penalties the door was left wide open when Ennismore added one more goal to make a 4-2 total. You can catch this Storm team in action in Gravenhurst this Wednesday as they face South Muskoka.

By Pasi Posti

Peewee LL

The Highland Storm LL Peewee Canadian Tire Team had a home game against the Almaguin Ice Devils. The Highland Storm LL Peewee Canadian Tire team came out in full force and kept their speed and skill up all game long. Goal scorers of the game were: Jamie Crowe (two goals) Ethan Megrah-Poppe (three goals) Haiden Bird Nathan Guild Ethan Thomas Maria O’Malley and Faysal Wiso. Assists made by Merrick Chapman Ethan Thomas Jamie Crowe and Nathan Guild kept the scores coming in while Carson Simms kept the shots out of his net with 19 saves. All players worked hard all game long ending the game with a 10-1 win for the Highland Storm. Way to go Storm with your first win of the season.The Highland Storm LL Peewee Canadian Tires next game is Saturday Jan. 5 in Huntsville at 10:40 a.m. against the Huntsville HRC.

By Shawn Guild

Atom 2 LL

The TD Canada Trust ll Atoms hosted South Muskoka in Minden. With another battle on their hands the TDS where showing their skills and keeping South Muskoka scoreless through the first. During the second period Brian Robichaud was showing he was a force to be reckoned with in net but South Muskoka was able to score. With a faceoff in the South Muskoka zone Ethan Rowe won the faceoff and passed a beautiful shot to Logan Reid which he found the five hole and scored. During the third period exhaustion was setting in and South Muskoka found the loss. For a game total of 9-1 for South Muskoka.

By Chris McMartin