The Peewee Highlanders have sent a message to Hamilton, Burlington, Brampton, Welland and St. Catherines this past week as they advanced to the Semi-Finals at the Golden Horseshoe Tournament over the Christmas break. These team DID NOT advance out of their pools, but the Peewee Highlanders won their pool and advanced to the Semi-final where they met up with the Russian team from Moscow.
“Our motto this year is CLIMB THE LADDER…we just climbed another rung this past week” quoted coach Scott Weber of the Highlander bench. It all started strong with a solid win game one against the Wheatfield Blades. Jack Armstrong was solid in net with a shutout. Defence moves of Joshua Urbshott, Quinton Maddock, Danny Skinner, Bradyn Thompson, and Dylan Reeves came up big to support Armstrong. The team scored 4, to send a message to all the teams that the Waste Management Highlander Peewees had come to play! The team should have known things this week were changing when Eric Charlebois fashioned his new black helmet!
The second game was against the strong Brampton Battalion, a team that the Peewees have struggled against all season. Unfortunately the team lost 4-0, but better things were to come as they dug deep and digging was required. With the bench shortening at each turn, they now had 4 players on the injured list with a broken wrist, sprained thumb, concussion and broken arm. Atkinson, Sollinger, Newson, and Swanton were all sidelined and had to watch from the stands. The boys on the bench needed to bring it all to each game if they were going to advance, and BRING IT THEY DID!!!
The third game was a match against the North Central Predators. The Highlanders went back and forth finally finishing the game with a 4-3 win. Goals were scored by Michael Fiegehen (2), Joshua Urbshott, and Noah Johnson with assists going to Johnson, Troy Weber, Jacob Lee, and Brady Reeves Coburn.
The fans were content to see the team come up big with two wins, coaches were pleased, and it could not get much better for the team….except the boys were not done! They took on the Chattham Kent Cyclones in game 4. A rough game against this dirty hard hitting squad, but the team walked away with another well fought battle and a win with a score of 3-2. Goals went to Will Rickerby, Dalton Black, and Jacob Lee with assists going to Danny Skinner, Noah Johnson (2), Jacob Lee, and the best one of all to goalie Jack Armstrong!
With three wins, it was enough to knock out the other teams in their pool and move on to the Semi-Final. Starting the tournament with 16 teams, it was now down to a mighty 4 to play off for the trophy. It was not much of a play off as the potent team from Moscow Russia walked through to the final beating the Highlanders and then winning the final against West Seneca with a score of 8-1. Armstrong shared the net this game with AP Mitchell Wiley for the semi-final. Although the Peewees lost to the winning team of the tournament, playing a team from Russia was an added bonus experience for the Highlanders. In a demonstration of excellent sportsmanship the two teams lingered on the ice for photos and some attempts at communication between the players – a cultural experience the boys will remember for years to come.
The parents, coaches and fans are extremely proud of the team and look forward to the rest of the season and watching as the boys climb another rung.