Jan 21, 2024 | Amanda Wood | 101 views
Meteors Rebound and quench 2nd place
The U18 Rep D Meteors travelled this Past weekend January 19-21st to Twin Centres/Wellesley to participate in the Frozen Classic Tournament hosted at the Bill Gies Recreational Complex and St Clements recreation centre.
The boys started out slow on Friday giving up two games to the Saugeen Shores Storm and the Strathroy Rockets. With End to End action, in game 1 vs: Saugeen Storm, the Meteors worked hard in trying to secure a lead in the 1st, but ended with an empty score board. Connor Brooks kept the boys in the game, facing shots from the Storm, as determination set in. In the 2nd, our boys caught some tough breaks, and were faced with penalty kill situations, which would ultimately end in a 1-0 lead for the Storm after 2. in the 3rd, with the boys, getting some unfavorable puck bounces, one more goal would get by netminder Brooks, to end in a ultimate, 2-0 defeat.
Later that afternoon, the Meteors, would get back on the ice, facing the Strathroy Rockets. The Rockets came out strong starting the game off early with a goal shot from the corner, placing in the back of the Meteors net in the 1st.
again, end to end action through out the 2nd another unfortunate penalty situation setting the boys down 2-0 late in the 2nd. The 3rd, gave the boys some hope with Willem Dewitt receiving a pass to be able to quickly shoot it past the Rockets Netminder, to make it a 2-1 game. Again ultimately, the boys would work hard, but leave the Rockets with success at the Rink with a 2-1 win.
Saturday morning the boys would head off to Wellesley again for a must win situation against the Strathroy Rockets a 2nd time, with the way the standings lined up. This time the Meteors, were ready for a match, as they would open the game with an early mark on the board to take 1-0 lead from Jacob Dietrich. The boys would continue on with their A game on penalty kill, at the end of the 1st, and early into the 2nd, managing all at the same to mark one more on the board for the Meteors from Lucas Mahon, making it 2-0 and the end of the 2nd. In the 3rd there would be an array of penalties on both teams, and superb penalty kills on the Meteors end. A 3rd goal would come from the point from Payton Wood early in the 3rd to take a confident 3-0 lead. With 6 minutes left in the 3rd, Strathroy, would put one back at the boys, placing it just over Brooks, to put a little pressure on the boys to end the game. With a short handed last 4 minutes for the Meteors, they again, worked well, and were able to crush the penalty, to take the win 3-1.
A few hours later, the Meteors would travel a tad further North East to the small community of St Clements to take on the Clearview Canucks. The Canucks were on an advantage in the 1st with a couple power play situations, which enabled the score board to be in their favor in the 1st, taking a 1-0 lead for the opponents.
Shortly thereafter, the Meteors would place one in the net tying the game in the 2nd by Jacob Dietrich.
The 3rd period would go end to end with chances for both teams, leaving a 2-2 score with another goal by Dietrich mid 3rd and 10 seconds later by the Canucks, to trail into Overtime. An edge of your seat OT, with stellar saves by Brooks, would push the game into a further excitement to a shoot out situation.
Out of 3 shooters, we would only need 2, again, Dietrich to score, 1st, Brooks to make the save on the Canucks first shooter, and then Noah Mann #7, to place the puck identical as Dietrich's, cross bar in in, at the same moment Brooks made the 2nd save, to secure the WIN, 3-2 OT. And the crowd went wild....
The boys would need to head home, for a good nights rest, to enter day 3 of the tournament, to face the hosts of the Tournament, the Twin Centre Junior Jacks at 8AM Bill Gies Rink.
Early Sunday morning, Meteors would head into game play looking sharp, starting out with a chance over chance scoring opportunity in the 1st, but keeping a 0-0 game in the 1st period. Not too long into the 2nd, Payton Wood #6 would be able to squeeze the puck in the net right on the side of the Jack's goal tender, giving the Boys a 1-0 lead. Not Too far after, Jacob Dietrich would be able to notch one more by the netminder, followed shorty with a 3rd by Logan Verberne, to give the Meteors a 3-0 lead going into the 3rd period. Sitting well, the boys continued on the 3rd, playing defensively with hopes of maintaining the 3-0 score, yet ending the game, with allowing 2 goals to get by netminder Brooks, leaving the boys with a too close for comfort, yet satisfying 3-2 win, to take them to the finals at 1 PM.
After a breakfast break up the road to St Clements and back, the U18 Mitchell Rep D Meteors would make their way back to the Wellesley rink to face the Dresden Junior Kings in the final game of the tournament.
The boys would come out showing a battle equal to the Junior Kings, making it evident both teams were out for the cup. A fast pace game would be played leaving little opportunity for scoring, to leave the score at an even 0-0 after 1. in the 2nd, The Opponents would make a play on the power play, to pickup the rebound, and manage to place the puck in the net past netminder Brooks' to take a 1-0 lead in the game. Not to long after, Meteors would answer back with a goal, to retain a 1-1 score to end the 2nd period.
The 3rd period would be full of chances, but nothing till the latter part of the 3rd, while on the power play, the Junior Kings, would manage to put one in the net taking a 2-1 lead. Within seconds, the opponents would copy that and score one more, making a hard to come back score with just 2 minutes left in the game leaving an ultimate 3-1 final score for the Dresden Junior Kings to take the cup home down South.
A great growing tournament well played for the U18 Rep D Meteors this weekend, should be proud of the weekend played, 6 games! Way to go Boys.