The Novice Rep Rams put in a busy month of November taking in a tournament in Seaforth as well as their regular season games.
The Novice Rep Rams put in a busy month of November taking in a tournament in Seaforth as well as their regular season games.
The Rams started off with the Zurich Minor Hockey Association squad. Alex Iles stepped in between the pipes for an ailing Dalton Harrison. The teams battled for the first several minutes, but the Rams stung first as Jacob Reeves scored with a pass off Luke Cowan from the faceoff.
Moments later Nole Black bumped up the count with thanks to Cory Lewis and Sam Bye. Lewis then counted off of Black for a 3-0 score, then repeated moments later for his second point. His hat trick came with just over a minute left in the first frame, a rebound off of Black. Black then received from Lewis and Ryan Pacheco for a solid 6-0 lead with 22 seconds left.
Elijah Menzies provided solid defence at the top of the second when Zurich made the foray in to the Rams end. Lewis tipped the rubber around the corner off of a slider from Pacheco. The Rams demonstrated strong passing techniques and recovered well from Zurich turnovers. Reeves rushed in with support from Corbin Peter but the duo was denied at the crease. Sam Bye was key in holding the blue line and feeding the rubber to the forwards. Black notched his hat trick with an exciting shot that deflected for a 8-0 lead. He then was credited with an assist for Pacheco who earned the nineth goal with 41 seconds remaining.
In the final chapter Iles was finally tested as the visitors regrouped with hopes of breaking the shutout. Coach Ian Francis decided to mix players, giving Bye the chance to rush in as a forward on the Zurich end. Iles frustrated several waves of attack and looked solid in his debut. Peter worked the crease and had the stick working on the rubber, but was denied. Riley Moore was solid in pulling the puck off the forwards' sticks while Menzies was key in messing with Zurich attacks. Luke Cowan used the boards to full advantage to keep the puck heading to the visitor end. With 24.5 seconds in the game, Black managed to cash his fourth marker to end the game 10-0.
VS. Seaforth
Riding high off their win, the Rams were quickly brought back down to earth by the Seaforth Stars. Penalties early in the game put both teams to the test, resulting in solid end to end play. Cory Lewis thrilled the visiting crowd with a breakaway which was handily grabbed by the Stars' cager. In spite of several excellent scoring opportunities, the teams were scoreless in the first frame.
More penalties cropped up in the second, with Nole Black taking full advantage. His breakaway was also snuffed out at the crease. It was Jacob Reeves who finally broke through to score with a beautiful backhand flip half way through the period. Seaforth was ready to retaliate on the next face off, but Mount Forest's Dalton Harrison was able to block the shot with a pad save. The Stars did best Harrison with just over a minute remaining to even the count 1-1.
In the third round, the Stars were highly motivated and managed to score on a breakaway from the first faceoff. Pacheco tried to retaliate, but couldn't complete the task. Both defense lines of Sam Bye, Riley Moore, Alex Iles and Elijah Menzies were solid in foiling repeated Stars attacks. The hosts finally increased their lead with soft slider for a 3-1 count. Penalties plagued the Stars and the Rams benefitted with a 5 on 3 player situation. Black, Lewis and Pacheco doubled their efforts but couldn't buy a goal at the Stars end.
Seaforth burned off their penalties and managed to count two more goals to end the match 5-1.
SEAFORTH TOURNAMENT
The Rams returned to Seaforth the following weekend for the Peter Flanagan Memorial Novice Tournament. The Friday night match pitted Mount Forest against the Ingersoll Express. The Rams charged through early as Nole Black scored within the first 30 seconds of the game - assist to Cory Lewis. The Express attempted to run down the Reps defense, but Riley Moore was solid on the blue line. He, along with Sam Bye then moved onto the offense and fed the rubber to Ryan Pacheco who had a thrilling near miss. Offensively, the Rams were outstanding in rapid fire action on the Express cager. In the Mount Forest end, Dalton Harrison had the team covered, smothering shots and blocking passes. Alex Iles was outstanding in pulling the puck off of wingers' sticks.
Harrison was tested early in the second and held on the fragile one goal lead. Luke Cowan was in the right place a the right time to deflect an Express pass. Pacheco and Black fed Lewis the rubber in padded the lead, then Cowan bulged the twine off a pass from Jacob Reeves. Lewis counted another marker off of Black to beat the Ingersoll cager at the 5-hole.
In the third, defense played a strong game as Bye was a wall of frustration, followed by Harrison's solid effort between the pipes. Cowan earned his second point on a solo effort and during the last three minutes of play Reeves counted on his breakway. But before the clock expired, the Express bested Harrison to score with 40 seconds remaining for a 7-1 final. Black was named the Rams Player of the Game.
The late night game was followed by an early morning start against the Chatsworth Maroons. The combo of Reeves and Cowan worked again as Reeves started the scoring midway through the first. That would be only goal scored in the first frame, in spite of solid end to end action.
The second frame had the Reeves/Cowan team repeating, after the Maroons cashed in on Harrison for a 2-1 Mount Forest count. Cowan then went all alone for the third marker on the following faceoff. Chatham replied quickly on Harrison's gloveside to make it 3-2. Alex Iles and Elijah Menzies were bookends on the blue line, while Cory Lewis, Nole Black and Ryan Pacheco pounded at the Express end. Harrison held on to the lead by standing up to a Chatham breakaway.
In the third Corbin Peter, Reeves and Cowan were a nightmare for the Express, hovering around the crease and pushing the rubber. Riley Moore and Sam Bye supported the cause with solid passes and interception. Finally, at mid point, Lewis passed out from the corner to Black who chipped the rubber over the goalie's shoulder. While most would think a 4-2 lead would stand with only minutes remaining, but the Express was readying to take it off the tracks. With 27 seconds left, the Express counted while short handed and tied the match with seven seconds on the clock. Given five minutes of overtime with a three on three format, Lewis, Black and Moore were selected to wrap things up. In spite of exciting playoff calibre play, the extra time couldn't buy a goal, resulting in a shootout.
Reeves started as first shooter but was denied. Lewis was up next and had the crowd on their feet with a goal. Chatham then scored, while Black missed. With the count tied, it was Iles who triumped and scored the winning goal in sudden death. Bye was declared player of the game for his efforts.
The Rams moved on to face the South Huron Sabres. After their outstanding effort in the previous two games, the Rams struggled as the Sabres dominated. Lewis had a thrilling near miss, but a majority of the first period was in the Rams end and kept Harrison busy.
The middle frame proved no different as the Rams struggled to dig the rubber out of their own end. Riley Moore and Sam Bye got their workout through the frame, while Dalton Harrison was finally able to shut down the attacks after heavy action in the first period. Jacob Reeves gave the Rams reason to hope with a rush, followed by an attempt by Luke Cowan.
Harrison made a huge save to start off the third period which gave Alex Iles momentum for his big rush to the Sabres end. The Rams couldn't buy a goal as Nole Black and Reeves were both frustrated at the crease. Elijah Menzies was key in diffusing Sabre rushes by beating the rush to the Rams end. Riley Moore had a cannon on the blue line, helping the offense rally through out the final frame. The Rams were heading to the B side after the 5-0 defeat. Lewis was named player of the game.
The final saw the Rams take on the Flesherton Golden Hawks. The Golden Hawks soared with a strong opening shot but Dalton Harrison had a big stick save. The Golden Hawks did manage to beat the cager once in the first period, but Harrison didn't allow them to repeat before the clock wound down. Cory Lewis and Ryan Pacheco dug hard along the boards, while Jacob Reeves executed a trademark rush. Flesherton hit a lot of metal at the Rams end, allowing Harrison to hold his ground.
In the second Nole Black and Lewis teamed up to annoy the Golden Hawks goalie, while Sam Bye continued to impress on defense. The line of Luke Cowan, Reeves and Corbin Peter was ready to pounce but couldn't catch a break. Before the end of the frame, the Golden Hawks had notched a second point, while the Rams kept the pressure on.
Harrison was tested early in the third with both pad and glove saves. Cowan tried to take it back to the Golden Hawks end but was stymied on two rushes. Finally the visitors bested Harrison with the third and final goal of the match, leaving the Rams to be satisfied with the first runner up - Consolation final title.
VS Seaforth
The Rams were finally at home to the Seaforth Stars. Thomas Brown was recruited for the game, after wrapping up his Novice House match.
Harrison once again was exercised early in the match and stood up well. The Rams managed to keep most of the action in the Stars end and concentrate their efforts on the net. Corbin Peter was solid in working the puck off the boards and clearing the puck out of the Rams end. In spite of exciting rushes from Jacob Reeves the first period ended scoreless.
Nole Black, Brown and Cory Lewis rallied early in the second to attack the Stars' crease. Alex Iles used a rushing defense tactic, while Brown excuted a blistering slapshot, however both were denied. Peter set up Reeves for a scoring opportunity, while Harrison seemed to create a force field around his pipes. Luke Cowan was close with a scoring opportunity while Riley Moore and Sam Bye were key in messing up Stars attacks. Once again, the frame ended scoreless.
Both teams dug deep in the third, with Seaforth counting on a screened Harrison. They then added to the count with a goal on the open side of the downed Rams cager. Mount Forest wasn't going to give up and Lewis took the play end to end to bulge the twine. Iles used his body to deflect a Stars attack, but the visitors counted the last marker for a 3-1 final.
VS Zurich
The Rams trekked to Zurich to meet up with the South Huron Sabres in regular season action.
Cory Lewis started the scoring early with a Ryan Pacheco assisted goal. Jacob Reeves followed up with an impressive deke on the Sabres cager for a clean goal. Riley Moore was tested on defense and frustrated several Sabres rushes, allowing the Rams to focus on the Sabres net. Nole Black cashed in a loose pass to make the count 3-0. Black repeated, this time off a Lewis pass, as the Rams dominated in the Sabres' end. The first goal was deflected, leaving the Sabres goalie defenseless.
Although they had a solid lead, the Rams weren't resting on their laurels in the second period. Alex Iles had a serious threat on the Sabres end, but his shot was glove saved. Reeves counted a tricky marker, which he shot from the corner and had bounce in off the pipe. Lewis added to the effort for a 7-0 count. Corbin Peter marked his first goal of the season, taking full advantage of a screened goalie. The Sabres finally broke the shut out and gave their goalie a much needed break. The Rams continued the attack with Lewis shooting, Black rebounding and finally Ryan Pacheco scoring for a 9-1 score.
Iles then used his sharp wrist shot early in the third period, as Coach Ian Francis moved his players. Peter then had his second point with an assist to Reeves. Lewis went all alone for the 12th goal of the game, and Iles wrapped things up with an assist to Black on defense. The Rams had a solid team effort and a 13-1 final.
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