Garb and Gear Midget AAA Highlanders Advance to Semi-Finals at 45th Annual International Silver Stick, News, Midget, 2013-2014 (Grey-Bruce Highlanders AAA Minor Hockey Association)

This Team is part of the 2013-2014 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Jan 24, 2014 | dvanooteghem | 1854 views
Garb and Gear Midget AAA Highlanders Advance to Semi-Finals at 45th Annual International Silver Stick
With an overall record of 27-10-4 and strong performances in both league and tournament play, the Garb and Gear AAA Midget Highlanders earned a late invitation to the Silverstick Midget AAA Finals in Sarnia this past weekend.  

The AAA Midgets of Grey Bruce viewed this invitation as an opportunity to showcase their talent internationally and that they did.  A total of 12 teams (6 Ontario and 6 USA teams) were invited to the tournament and on paper the competition was going to be tough.  In round robin match-ups they played 4 outstanding, exciting, fast-paced games.   As the tournament went on, Grey Bruce became the team to watch.  “Who are these guys and where did they come from?” was the buzz around the rinks.

The Highlanders went 2-0-2 in round robin play defeating Detroit Little Ceasars (6-2), Wisconsin’s Madison Capitols (4-2), and tying both the London Jr. Knights and Minnesota’s Shattuck - St. Mary’s by identical scores of 1-1.   Their record of 2-0-2 was enough to finish 4th in the single pool of 12 teams and the only Canadian team to advance to the playoff round on Sunday.  The 4th place finish put them up against first place Detroit Honeybaked in the first of 2 semi-finals.  “These guys will never be able to skate with them (Honeybaked) on the big ice” (of the RBC center home of the OHL’s Sarnia Sting) was one comment overheard by a Grey Bruce supporter after the semi-final match ups were announced. 

With heart and determination our Highlander lads faced Detroit Honeybaked determined to prove the skeptics wrong.  After scoring first and after several lead changes, Grey Bruce scored late in the third to send the game into the first 5 minute 3-on-3 OT period.  Both teams had several nail-biting chances to end the game but in the end the first OT period solved nothing.  By International Silverstick rules a 2nd 5 minute 3-on-3 OT period was required.  Early in this period a sprawling Honeybaked player was able to get his stick on a loose puck and poke in the winner and the lads fell 5-4 - disappointing to say the least, but on the other hand, what an outstanding game and impressive performance.   

They probably can’t see it now but, from an observers perspective what a tremendous accomplishment it was for Our Grey Bruce Midgets to take this team to double overtime.  Consider this.  As a late invite Grey Bruce was not even expected to advance but, proved otherwise.  Honeybaked was arguably the top team in the tournament and was the 5th ranked team in the USA.  Honeybaked went undefeated in round robin play and only allowed 3 goals against until this semi-final game and they eventually went on to win the tournament.  (“Grey Bruce? Who are these guys and where did they come from again?”)  

Congratulations to all the players and coaching staff for a very successful and exciting weekend of hockey. 

The Midgets now returns to regular league play with more confidence than ever, working hard to continue their strong play and will be pressing to finish at the top of the league.  

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