Congratulations
are extended to the Bantam AE Tigers for winning the International Silver Stick
Championship this past weekend. It was a well-deserved (and hard-earned) win
for this outstanding group of young hockey players and their coaches.
All of the teams arrived in Pelham, Ontario on January 4th to vie for the coveted International Silver Stick Championship. The tournament drew teams from across North America - from as far away as California, Colorado, Washington DC, and New Jersey - and from as near as Orangeville, Halton Hills, and Centre Wellington.
There were 16 teams in four pools in the Bantam Division. At the end of pool play, the Tigers had the best record with three wins, no losses, 32 goals for, 2 goals against and a 0.941 goals for percentage. The Tigers were ready for the challenge of meeting the top teams from the other pools.
The quarter finals saw the Tigers playing the host team from Pelham. The Tigers forged ahead with a 7-1 victory. The semi-finals were played against the formidable Halton Hills Thunder, who had defeated the Barrie Colts in their regional tournament. It was a nail-biter of a game. Halton Hills scored early in the second and held that one goal lead until late in the third when the Tigers tied it up. The game went into a 4 on 4, 10-minute sudden victory overtime format – playing until a winner would be scored. Midway through the second overtime period, the Tigers scored, advancing them to the finals on Sunday.
For their final challenge, the Tigers faced the Centre Wellington Fusion. The Fusion played a strong, physical game and scored early in the first period. The Tigers never wavered and fought back to tie the game early in the second period - with the threat of another 4 on 4, sudden victory overtime format looming, the Tigers were able to score with only four minutes remaining in the third. The Fusion could not find a way to tie the game and the Tigers secured the Silver Stick Championship.
Again, coaches Stewart Ritchie, Keith Scott, Ron Cocking and John Spicer were proud of the discipline, determination, and camaraderie the boys displayed on and off the ice. It is rare to find a group of boys, coaches and parents to have come together so perfectly for this game of hockey we love so much. It is a special group that has accomplished much over the last few years, but none as sweet, nor as memorable as this Silver Stick victory! Well-done Tigers and congratulations on a well-deserved win!
Special thanks to Judy Coultes-MacLeod for the story submission.