Nov 16, 2015 | Kerri Catalan | 499 views
Scotia Bank Bantam Rep Team Schomberg Champs
This past weekend the Scotia Bank Bantam Rep Boys Team played in the Shomberg Red and White hockey tournament. The schedule was set, having the boys face three games in three days, with the finals going on Sunday evening. The first three games were against teams that they have never played before so this would be a true test of focus and confidence in their own abilities.
On Friday evening Mitchell faced a very determined South Muskoka team. Muskoka was over run by the Meteors fast pace dump and chase style that was causing problems for them. The boys used their speed and hard work to surmount a 5-1 lead by the end of the second period. Mitchell used the third period to work on passing and the game control, adding one more to finish the game 6-2. The following day the team was set to play Chatsworth in the night game. Both teams came out hitting everything in sight, like two heavy weight boxers, the first period ended 1-1. After some motivational chatter from the coach, Mitchell put the pedal down and opened the second period with a four goal rally in 7 minutes of play, and to top it off the Bantam boys added four more in the third to take the game 9-1. After having two dominating wins under their belts Mitchell would face their toughest test on the Sunday game to finish the round robin and see who would advance to the Gold Medal Game. The Mitchell boys would have to play against home town favorites the host Shomberg Red-Wings. Both teams were undefeated at this point and the winner would seal the deal for first place. The game started out slow and timid neither team wanting to make a mistake, as the clock ended the first period the game was scoreless. During the first intermission coach Schoonderwoerd emphasized the game plan and to "stick to the basics, everything will work it self out". Well if those words didn't ring the truth, Mitchell opened up with two goals in 17 seconds, and before the period ended they had added two more and were in the driver seat ending the period 4-1. In the third Mitchell played a puck control game of keep away frustrating the Red-wings for the 12 minute period. Mitchell had worked themselves into the Gold Medal Game against Listowel Cyclones. The Mitchell coaching staff knew they had their hands full with Listowel, having gone 3-0 in the round robin in their division. The Cyclones came out just like expected, using the big ice surface and speed to spread out the Mitchell defense, at times it seemed that Listowel had 8 players on the ice they were fore checking so aggressively. After the first period the Meteors managed to limit the damage and the score was tied 1-1. When the second period started the Mitchell boys came out at a relentless pace and the opportunities started to happen for them, shots were coming fast and furious. With all their hard work all they could muster was a 2-2 tie after two periods of play. Slowly you could feel the change in attitude with the team and their confidence was growing again. Even though the game was marred by a severe amount of penalties, both teams did a great job of keeping their focus and just playing hockey. The third period saw end to end action for 15 minutes, you could tell the Cyclones were spent and trying to hang on to a tie and go to shoot out. Coach Joe Schoonderwoerd was trying to rally the troops with chant "Juan more goal"!!! With 20 seconds left in the third period the coaches prayers were answered, the Mitchell boys mustered up the strength to tickle the twine one more time. In the post game interview Coach Scott Maclean stated " we kept telling the boys believe in yourselves and your abilities and the rest will work it self out, and now we see what they can accomplish"! This was a great tournament from the Organization committee to the level of hockey that was played, Honorable mentions go to James C for his stellar net minding in all four games, and Carter S., he received the tournament MVP for scoring three hat tricks in three games and finishing the weekend with 15 points in four games. Congratulations to Mitchell Meteors Scotia Bank Bantam Boys Rep team.