Article provided by Coach McClure............................
Mitchell, ON – Blue-collar work ethic combined with dancing goalies and singing power forwards provided much entertainment for parents and fans of the 2011 -2012 Mitchell Hoegy Farm Supply Peewee AE squad. Unfortunately, the show had to end.
After ousting Goderich, Collingwood and Huntsville, Mitchell was defeated by a strong Dorchester squad in the O.M.H.A. All Ontario Final, three games to none.
Game one was played last Sunday in Dorchester and stood to be the closest of the three ending in a 5-3 loss. The lethal offensive line of Kurtis Eisler, Curtis Lockhart and Riley Sykes came together for the first goal of the series as Eisler banged one home from his spot in front of the net and again early in the second, as he redirected a Jamie Adair shot from the point. Dorchester had answers for both and took a 4-2 lead deep into the third. With the extra attacker, Jamie Adair launched a rocket into the Dorchester net and gave hope to the Meteor squad with only 2 minutes to play. Dorchester shut the door on the comeback with a goal with only 45 seconds to play. Mitchell headed home down 1 game.
Mitchell carried their momentum into the first period of game 2 and through a scoreless first period. Lockhart continued to provide offense as he shoveled one in early in the second to give Mitchell another lead. Dorchester continued their drive and capitalized on a couple of powerplay opportunities and took a 3-1 lead into the third. Again with the goalie pulled, Mitchell could not muster the comeback and Dorchester iced it with an empty net goal.
Much of the same storyline from game 2 was retold the next night in a series ending 5-1 loss. Again, Adair rifling one in the top corner in the first period was the only tally that Mitchell could throw on the scoreboard as things were all tied going into the second. Two powerplay goals and a couple of breakaway dekes gave Dorchester a lead and the championship through the next two frames.
“The boys battled every second of this series and not once did they lose the intensity that brought them here” reflected Peewee coach Pat McClure. “This is a character team and the boys should hold their heads high to what they have accomplished this year.”
One of those accomplishments was a W.O.A.A. League Championship title over Blyth-Brussels last week. The boys swept the best of 3 series last Monday night in Blyth with a 4-3 comeback win. The combination of Luke O’Rourke brother Jack and Nick Baker provided much of the offense in the thriller. Blyth-Brussels were the recipients of a couple of early bounces that saw them get off to a 3-1 lead midway through the second period. Luke O’Rourke showed off his patience and was able to outwait the goaltender to bring the boys within one and Kurtis Eisler buried one off a rebound with only 11 seconds to play in the second. The third period played scoreless until the last minute. Aaron McNeil made a gorgeous breakaway stop with only 35 seconds to play and on the ensuing faceoff; Luke O’Rourke was able to chip the puck past the defensemen and gave himself a breakaway. Already with two goals in the game, O’Rourke made no mistake for his first career hat-trick and gave Mitchell the championship.
Mitchell started off the series with a 2-1 win at home a week earlier in a penalty filled affair. Riley Sykes and Jacob Laing were the goal scorers.
Among being O.M.H.A. Finalists and W.O.A.A. Champions, the Mitchell Hoegy Farm Supply Peewee AE squad were finalists in the Mitchell Peewee tournament in November and won the B title at the Zurich Peewee tournament at Christmas.
“I am not sure you could ask any more from these guys in what they have done this year. They have learned what it takes to accomplish something and how to work for what they believe they can achieve,” states McClure.
A special thanks to our sponsors, Hoegy Farm Supply and to tournament sponsors the Mitchell Coyotes and Mitchell Grizzlies. To James Morrison for ensuring that we have proper practice and game slots in times that required late changes. Thanks to Steve Davey for accommodating us and the demands of scheduling our series.
Most importantly to the parents who required last minute planning for our road trips and for supporting the boys from the stands all the way through. Thanks to Chrissy, our parent rep, who took on planning responsibilities of booking hotels for our trips away. Thanks to Kim Baker for organizing a team bus fully equipped with washroom facilities for our long trip to Huntsville. Thanks to Ron Bird and any other hockey dads that were required to document detailed game statistics. Thanks to our team photographer Jeff Lockhart for documenting our season and especially such a great playoff run.
Special thanks to the coaching staff who brought with them the intensity and knowledge that created such a successful environment.
Last but not least, thanks to the players who bought into the team mentality and provided a style of play that was admirable to anyone associated with the team, organization and the town of Mitchell.
Great Season Boys!