Your Neighborhood Credit Union Atom Rep boys finish regular season play with a win and prepare for playoffs as they bring home the "A" Championship from the West Grey Atom Rep Tournament
The
YNCU Meteors played their last league season play game and recorded a W despite
a battle that seemed to be as much with themselves as with the visiting South
Bruce Blades. They were able to shake off those demons quickly though as they
traveled to Ayton Sunday to play three fantastic games of well balanced and fun
to watch tournament hockey as they finished as the "A" side
Champions. A great sign for both themselves and fans as they look ahead to
what's sure to be a grueling playoff season with very tough competition.
The Your Neighborhood Credit Union Atoms began Tuesday night as the Blades traveled to town to play a make up game from an earlier cancelation. The boys went down a goal in the first as South Bruce scored the only marker in the frame but the boys were able to regroup somewhat in the second adding a pair of their own to the scoresheet. The third brought back some irregularities in the boys game as the score seesawed between the two teams but in the end the boys were able to piece together late in the third a 6-4 victory. Some of the usual suspects were on the scoring record but a shout out to James McCarthy and Caleb Templeman who helped get the team fired back up with some assist points as well as to Lucas Roobroeck who made his return to the team after being sidelined for his recovery.
As mentioned the boys would move past the Blades game and play their traditional style game as they collectively contributed in Sunday's tournament. The opened against Ayr as the first game had the implications of a move to the "A" or "B" side of the bracket. They displayed very early on that it was time for Meteors hockey and McCarthy opened up things 36 seconds in from a Jack Small contribution. Team manager Dale McCarthy was heard later in the day complimenting the contributions of Jack's father Dave as well for some fantastic card play. Josh French would also score in the first off a Vincent Voros assist. The second period would bring another single for the Meteors from Voros and the third would add two more late, one again from Voros and the last from French assisted from Templeman and McCarthy. The second game would bring more of the same crisp play as the YNCU Mitchell team would reach a new level of puck cycling that has not been seen from them yet this season. Jarrett VanBakel would score from French in the first while McCarthy hung the marker in the second from Voros and another Small contribution and Voros added the thirds mark from Brock Boville and VanBakel. But dispite some numbers left off the scoresheet the play from all in the boys second game was a marvel to behold and without relentless blueline play from the likes of Roobroeck, Templeman, Rhett Terpstra and Daniel Ogilvie the boys never would have been able to hold the opposition to their own zone for the lengthy stretches that resulted. The 3-1 final over the Elmvale Coyotes sent the boys to the Championship game in the early evening.
Game 3 was another fresh face to see the boys this season as they squared up to the Creemore Valley Hawks for the final test. Again a first period lead from Voros would boost the boys but a few minutes in the second with the teams tied would remind the Meteors that this would not be easy. It was however Kyle Mills time to step in as he would net the eventual winner in the second period and add again in the third both from hard front of the net battles. An empty net goal would be the final insurance for the boys as they finished a top of the tournament with the 4-1 victory. It was marvelous to see such great play as the boys await their first round playoffs opponent. The team and parents would also like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the coaches for their constant and consistent leadership towards the boys so far this season and also to the Mitchell Coyotes for their continued financial contributions year after year helping to send teams to participate in tournaments such as this one.