Hello and welcome to Survivor; Newmarket Disney XD Rink Rat style!
In my best Jeff Probst voice; " Oro Wins Immunity " !
Wish it was that easy but the reward(s) were such a rush....
***Update***
Oro Thunder makes OMHA Hometown Hockey magazine:
http://www.myvirtualpaper.com/doc/OMHA/hh_winter14_web/2014022101/#16
Looking good Jacob!!
The day started with an alarm we are all too familiar with this season...the dreaded 4:30/5:00 wake up.
The weather was clear and off we raced to the beautiful Magna Center in frozen downtown Newmarket...Cappy came dressed for a grand entrance......
Speaking of smart dressers,the Team Moms were the envy of others all day looking ohh so lovely decked out in Thunder Reds . Thanks to Kim and Steve Fisher for the favour.
First game of three in our round robin was vs Pelham Atomic . We knew going in all games were almost must wins to advance, so the pressure was on. It seemed that to be Champions that day,one team would have to run the table...a difficult task to be sure.
Our team roared out of that early AM gate, blasting by Pelham 10-2.
Aidan and Fletch played anything you can do...and banged home 4 each.
Cappy a pair and the Assist Grinch only showed one apple...for Evan
Great start,but the toughest game of the day(and the season) to date was next up.
The Bradford Bulldogs
Big.Fast.Great puck movers and solid line-up top to bottom. A group every bit our equals.
This is the game I wish to focus on most because it was truly the elimination game of the day.
Lose and you go home.
We started off with confidence by Aidan nailing a marker in the first minute from Sky and Bo ..to which Bradford responded less than two minutes later to tie it. Game on
Bradford took the lead shortly thereafter with a nice goal 2-1. This team has several kids than can really fire a puck.
Less than 40 seconds later Aidan again tied it up from Evan and Ty..neither team would allow the other breathing space.
The game was spent with zone pressure in each end and both Owen and Bradford's goalie were tested shift after shift...spectacular goaltending at both ends of the ice.
Period 2
Fletch started to find his range and he and Aidan combined on some nice puck sharing for the 3-2 lead with Zack too picking up an assist.
But less than two later Bradford surged back and tied it at threes. 11 minutes to go and anybody's game.
The next 5 minutes saw a fever pitched battle,both teams trying to get the next goal as it would likely be the winner. End to end rushes,great saves,beautiful headmanning the puck.
Our team was crushed when at 6:03 Bradford scored what looked to be the winner.
The looks on our team's faces said it all...they feared defeat for the first time in 20 games.
We told them loudly.."this isn't over" and "we can do this" and but seemed unconvinced.
The final five minutes saw our team's leaders put the game on their shoulders..and they didn't disappoint.
Fletch tied the game at fours collaborating again with Aidan to knot the contest.
There was relief but also a desire to finish them off...yet Bradford had ideas of their own.
One of their top players ripped a labelled ROCKET from the top of the dot and Owen flashed a glove like no other I have seen this season. He nailed it...and likely saved the contest right there.
Under three to go, when Ty hit Fletch who flew through a maze and sent the crown into hysterics fooling Bradford's tender for the 5-4 lead. But could we hold on?
Colt had the play of the series stopping a sure goal with a last gasp,diving maneuver. You can't coach plays like that..it's all effort and a never say die attitude. Colt,that could very well have been a tournament saver. Truly amazing.
Bradford continued their electric puck pursuit ,themselves now fearing defeat, propelling themselves frenetically all over the ice for the final minutes.
It wasn't meant to be.
Fletch with the dagger at over a minute to play from Cappy and Evan sent us into orbit and through to the semi finals. 6-4 Oro and blessed relief.
The celebration afterwards was that of a team winning it all. To be pushed to the brink and then willing ourselves onto victory spoke volumes about the character on this team. We bent,hurt,but never broke...simply dusted ourselves off,regained our composure, and wanted it even more.
A tip of the hat to Bradford..a super skilled,well coached team. Kudos.
Next on the docket was the skills completion and our boys did Oro proud.
Fletch,Aidan,Jacob,Ty Bo and Owen blew the doors off the competition in the relay event..it wasn't even close.
Owen's puck handling and skating through the pylons was something to watch!!
In the shootout elimination Aidan,Fletch and Jacob made it through to the final four and Owen was tested by all the best shooters in the tournament and acquitted himself very well. A fun but long hour on the ice with one game still to go in the round robin.
It was known we had advanced on the Bradford result,but didn't tell the team...we wanted a full effort vs Ajax Green Machine
Our team started very slow but still had chances,stymied time and again by a large and very strong Ajax goaltender.
This wasn't our best first period and the wear of the early and long day began to show.
End of the first was knotted at zeros before we found that elusive second wind.
Second period was all Oro and we closed out our pool with a still convincing 5-0 win.
Aidan had two gorgeous carbon copy goals finding a chink in Ajax's armour going top shelf flip in close...remarkable hatty and gutty effort.
Fletch and Cappy rounded out the scoring with two apples for Skylar and Fletch with singles to Evan and Bo.
In the dressing room the team was truly exhausted.. Zack looked very ill,Ty was struggling ,and we told the team to get a good meal, hydrate fully,slow down on the roaring around be ready for the ultimate challenge to win it all..two games back to back!
I think these two pictures sum up the state of our team at 5:00 pm
The semi-final was at 7:15 vs East Gwillimbury and we came back refreshed and ready for the challenge
Sadly,I was unable to get the game sheets post tourney for either this or any the Championship game so the points will remain a mystery for now.
I do remember some however...
Zack dug deep down and summoned up energy to forecheck creating a defensive turnover,then after the winger to do same,whereby Cappy hit Bo in the slot for a beauty goal. After returning to the bench,I don't think he realized how important his dogged determination was on that play.Fabulous effort from Zack Attack
We were up 2-0 after one and rolled into the third with momentum,so we asked our centers to take it easy and save energy for the next game. Cassie moved to center and once again found the back of the net. You have a big decision to make next year young lady as you have the raw skills to play this important position. Your defensive play in this tourney showed the progression made all season on D...so impressive. There can be no wrong decision because either way... you are a player.
The final score was 5-0 and we were ready for whoever was next for the Championship Game...it was Parry Sound
In the short time we had between games the team got re-energized.
All tourney long we had shown determination and a will to win..but now,playing a fresher team,would it be enough?
"No guts, no glory" was the mantra and we fired up the troops for one last battle.
They came out and had a simply dominant final.
The ice appeared tilted for long stretches where the puck wouldn't come out of Parry Sound's zone
We swarmed Parry Sound led by Edward,Skylar and Evan's hard puck pursuit and strong sticks. Mark owned the crease and there was no answer for our attack but a opposition goalie who made great save after great save...and a lot of posts!
Our defense was so strong all series,and Caelan was a huge part with his icy precision. In the end our gaa was a meager 1.6 and this was due in large part to superior D and goaltending.
We led 4-0 and let our guard down as the finish line was soo close...it didn't matter as the result was never in doubt
This team had shown that no matter what the opposition throws at us,we are at the ready with an answer.
The 9 pm plus final was 4-2...and Champions at last
Newly minted Disney Stars Bradley Steven Perry and Jake Short from Mighty Meds (aka Zack and Cody ...duh Coach..Kaz and Oliver!) who presented our Captain the first ever DisneyXD Championship Cup,then photo bombed our team photo (as did our "#1 fan" :) .....and the celebration was on!!
In the end this tournament was more just a than just a competition of skill...it was more a battle of will.
There were many excellent teams in this tourney,but to play five games in one day is an enormous challenge for any hockey team..especially ones aged Atom.
The team spirit shone through day long,and helped revive a Coach suffering with the flu (as did some timely meds..thanks team nurses :)
The Championship was truly a team victory...everybody did their part from Owen out and brought their best game.
No matter what happens here forward,this team has accomplished so much this season and we are so very proud and happy for them. This was an incredible day chocked full of memories I'm sure we will not soon forget
Survivors. Champions. One heluva team.
Cheers Oro Thunder 1
Scenes from the ice/dressing room celebration;
(Thanks to Maria and James for the fantastic photos)
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