What a weekend for the Grey Bruce Highlander Atom team!!! The team went to their first tournament and
crossed the border for a tournament against some different competition in the
United States. The team was hoping to
work on some new game plans and have some good bonding at the same time. They had success in both areas.
In their first game of the tournament, the team came out strong, outskating and outworking a good Syracuse Nationals team. They worked hard in the work zone and played a strong defensive game to come out with a 2-0 win. Jacob, earning his first shutout in his AAA career, was solid between the pipes and never gave the Nats a chance to get into the game. In game 2, the team would play a Rochester Coalition team, a group that had a very strong back end that wheeled on the big ice. With Brian in the net, again, the Atom’s opponents could not get on the scoreboard and the team earned its second straight shutout victory, 2-0, Brian’s first shutout in his career. With the team clearly working well in the defensive end, the team was looking to “up” their offense in game 3. They did just that, beating Buffalo Regals 6-0. In their 4th game, the Highlanders faced the Jersey Hitmen Against the Hitmen, the BMO Wealth Management Atoms came out strong with a clear game plan to force the play in the offensive end. Throwing 40 pucks at their opponents net, the team was all over the Hitmen, but with the exceptional goaltending of the Hitmen could only get two pucks past them. And, as most coaches know, when you let a team hang around, anything can happen…….the Hitmen tied it in the last two minutes for the game to end as a 2-2 tie. In this tournament, they hold a shootout at the end of tied games for an extra point, and unfortunately the Hitmen took the extra point.
That Saturday night game would prove to be the only blemish on the weekend as the Highlanders moved to the semi-finals on Sunday. In the semis, the team got their rematch against the Hitmen. With very loud fans on the Hitmen side, the team wanted to quiet them early, and that they did. Scoring two early goals, the team took the play to the Hitmen early. For most of the game, the Highlander Atoms controlled the play and headed into the last four minutes with a 5-2 lead that looked insurmountable. But, in AAA hockey if you let your foot off the gas, it can hurt you. With a one minute lapse of intensity, the Atoms allowed two quick goals by the Hitmen but closed out the game with 5-4 win. The stats showed the tale of the game as the Highlanders outshot the Hitmen 38-9. However, the team knew that those 9 shots were all good scoring opportunities from mistakes that they had to fix for the final.
In the final, against a very strong Boston Jr. Terriers team, the Highlanders knew that they were up against a very strong skating team but had not played them earlier in the tournament. Early in the game, the tired legs of the weekend showed as the strong skating of the Terriers made the team look like they were standing still. But, with some strong goaltending, keeping the team in the game, the Highlanders slowly found their legs and started to take more of the play to the Terriers. An exciting back and forth game, the Highlanders managed to hold a 3-2 lead going into the third and then extended that lead with a goal while shorthanded 5 on 3. But, as the boys like to keep it interesting, in a one minute breakdown in concentration, the team gave that lead back and the game was tied 4-4. But, on a great goal, with an excellent clear from the zone to a 2 on 1, a sweet feed and a great finish, the team took a 5-4 lead with a minute and a half left in the game. Holding onto that lead wasn’t without its stress, but the team stood tall and won the Championship with a 5-4 win.
With the steady and physical defense, use of space and offensive thinking of Mikale, Hunter, Sam, Grayden, Cole and Ryan F, the defense had a great mix of talent and success, showing that they are the end of the line for the other team and beginning of the offense for the Highlanders. With sweet passes, hard back checking, net play and great skating; Ian, Ryan B, Coen, Owen, Jax, Zasha, Wyatt, Jackson and Drew showed that they are not one dimensional. These forwards are a big part of the team’s defensive game as well as creating offense. Not to be outdone, the two goalies, Jacob and Brian were outstanding all weekend and are the shutdown in the defensive end that the team needs.
All in all, the team came to the USA, walked away with a championship but earned much more, improved team play, team bonding and so much fun. Great job Highlanders!!!