International Silver Stick Finalists, News, Minor Pee Wee A ('08), U12-U13 Travel, 2019-2020 (St. Thomas Minor Hockey)

This Team is part of the 2019-2020 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Jan 23, 2020 | Tom Watson | 1013 views
International Silver Stick Finalists
On January 9, 2020, the Ansell's Awards & Specialties Minor Peewee Jr. Stars travelled to Newmarket, Ontario to compete in the International Silver Stick Finals.


The Stars opened the tournament against a Top 10 ranked team in the Province in the Barrie Colts.  In a game that went back and forth for most of the game, the Stars were able to come away with a 4-2 win.

 

The Stars started the second day of the tournament against the Big Boy Hockey Club out of Michigan.  The Stars were able to control the flow of the game from the opening faceoff, and skated away with a convincing 10-0 win. 

 

Game 3 of the tournament saw the Stars faceoff against the #2 ranked team in Ontario, the Orillia Terriors.  In a game that pitted two of the top teams in the province, the Stars were able to prevail with a hard fought 4-2 win.

 

The final game of round robin play saw the Stars up against the Nickel City Sharks.  The game saw the play go back and forth up the ice for most of the opening period, however the Stars proved to be too much for the Sharks, with the Stars pulling away with a 6-0 win.

 

After finishing up the round robin portion of the tournament undefeated, the semi-final saw the Stars set up to face strong league foe, the Brantford 99ers.  The semi-final proved to be a thrilling game, with two very evenly matched teams.  After another game that went back and forth, and thanks to some key saves at key times, the teams skated to a 1-1 tie after regulation.  The tie set up an exciting 3on3 OT period, which saw both teams get chances to win.  But in the end, the Stars wouldn’t be denied another chance at a championship, ending the game in the 1st overtime period for a 2-1 win.

 

The semi-final win set up another rematch with the Owen Sound Jr. Attack.  This would be the 3rd consecutive tournament this season that saw these two teams meet in the final.  All games to date have been closely played, and this game would be no different.  The Stars got down early, but rallied back to trade goals back and forth all game, and built a 5-3 lead.  However, the Attack would not give up, and at the end of the 3rd period, the game was tied 5-5.  To knowones surprise, these two very evenly matched teams would need extra time to decide the winner.  And much like the semi-final, both teams traded chances to win the game, in one of the most exciting OT periods to be seen.  After playing more than 7 minues of 3on3 overtime, the Attack were able to complete the comeback, winning the game 6-5.

 

It was not the ending that the Stars were looking for, but fun was had, and lessons were learned.  The entire coaching staff and parent group are extremely proud of this group of boys.  They set out with a goal of making it to the International Tournament.  Not only did they accomplish that goal, they played their hearts out and almost came away with another tournament championship.

 

A special shout out and thank you to the 2006 Minor Bantam Stars, who were also competing in the same tournament.  On the evening of the semi-final, the Minor Bantams took time away from their own semi-final preparation to lend some encourgement for the Minor Peewee’s, creating a walkway tunnel for the boys to go through while entering the playing surface for the semi.  In return, the Minor Peewee’s did the same for them for their semi-final.  A huge congratulations to the Minor Bantams – 2020 International Silver Stick Champions.  Well done boys!!


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