Brokerlink Midgets champions
Brokerlink Midgets.
Brokerlink Midgets saw their third consecutive win at the Aubrey Percival Midget Classic Huntsville Tournament.
Submitted photo
OWEN SOUND - The Parry Sound Midget Brokerlink Shamrocks travelled to Owen Sound for tournament play on Friday October 12th where they made it to the semi finals with their depleted squad of eleven skaters. With a healthier line up this past weekend, the Brokerlinks headed to Huntsville to take part in the Aubrey Percival Midget Classic Hockey Tournament. Teams from clubs around the province met to challenge the previous two time winner Parry Sound Shamrocks.
In round robin play the Brokerlink Shamrocks began the tournament against the Almaguin Devils. Numerous penalties were handed out but the Brokerlinks out scored the Devils 5-0 as Tanner Emerson recorded the shut out. Goal scorers in the games were Connor McLeod (2), Tyler Conn, and short handed goals by Carson Lacey and Kyle Doherty.
Assisting was Connor McDougall (2), Tyler Conn (2), Connor McLeod, and Cameron Johnson.
The Friday night game against Tillsonburg was a closer match with fewer penalties. The disciplined play of the Shamrocks enabled them to defeat Tillsonburg in a close match with a score of 1-0. Tristan Berry found the mesh with his rocket on a pass from Conn and McLeod. Net minder Brandon Badger recorded the shut out victory.
The Brokerlink Shamrocks were able to rest up for their Saturday night game against the undefeated Pembroke team. Both teams had two wins going into this match, however, Pembroke had more goals scored. The Shamrocks needed to win this game to capture their Pool C division and direct entry into the semi final round. It was a penalty filled game as both teams fought hard for the win. Pembroke managed to take the 2-0 lead into the third.
Coach Les Badger settled his team down and McLeod wired a shot from the point on the power play. Tanner Whetham and Stuart Thornton assisted on the comeback. Less than two minutes later it was Whetham’s turn to go top right on his slapper from the point. Winston Badger and Lacey started the play to tie the game at two. The game ended in a 2-2 tie, but it was Tanner Emerson that kept it at 2’s. He managed to stop an onslaught of shots in the second and third period. As the Shamrocks remained undefeated in the tournament, they earned the wildcard into the semi finals on Sunday morning where they once again faced Pembroke.
It was an early Sunday morning departure from Parry Sound for the 9:30 am start against Pembroke. A number of fans made the trip to watch the Shamrocks play a fabulous game. In the lowest penalty minute game played, Brokerlink Shamrock McDougall capitalized with a lovely goal on the pass from Johnson and Conn to open the scoring midway in the second period. Pembroke took a penalty late in the second and the Shamrocks power play went to work. The ‘Connor’ magic struck quickly as winger Thornton found McDougall in the corner where he skated behind the net and feathered a pass to McLeod who snuck into the slot from the point and labelled the top shelf to take a 2–0 lead into the third. Goal tender Badger and the defensive play of the Shamrocks were able to stop/block shots and on numerous occasions the offensive lines penned Pembroke in their end for the majority of the game. The win assured Parry Sound a berth into the final and a chance to win their third consecutive Huntsville Tournament.
Parry Sound played the winner of the game between top seeds in Pool A and B. It was a hard fought battle between Mooretown (Sarnia area) and West Mississippi (Ottawa area) with West Mississippi winning the match to face Parry Sound in the final.
As the puck dropped Badger got the nod between the pipes. West Mississippi managed to open the scoring in the first and score a quick goal to start the second and take a 2-0 lead. Coaches Les Badger and Brian McLeod rallied the troops and the midgets responded. At 5:17, McLeod raced for the loose puck and split the defence to score a wonderful unassisted top shelf goal. The momentum changed as Parry Sound exuded confidence and began to take over the game. Minutes later Thornton aggressively fore checked and Lacey retrieved the puck and passed to W Badger. He sauced the puck to Thornton for the finish and tied the game at 2.
As the Brokerlink Midget Shamrocks shut down the West Mississippi offense, the Shamrocks continued to press. Late in the third the Shamrocks frustrated the opposition and went on the power play. Again the patented power play of the Connors resulted in the third Shamrock goal, this time with McDougall scoring on the pass out from McCleod and Berry assisting. As the seconds ticked down Mississippi pulled their goalie to go for the tie. However, McLeod jumped on loose puck and fed it to McDougall who stretch passed to Conn who skated it in to deposit the empty netter and secure the win for Parry Sound.
Parry Sound Brokerlink Midget Shamrocks played impressive hockey, and managed to play disciplined hockey as the tournament progressed. The unified team play and disciplined coaching lead the Brokerlinks to their third consecutive win of the Aubrey Percival Midget Classic Huntsville Tournament. The Midgets will play at the BOCC on Friday night at 8:30 against Haliburton. Please come out to support your home town Shamrocks.
