Jan 23, 2012 | Carsten | 980 views
Kickin" A$$ and Taking Names
And I quote from Head Coach Kevin Rice...."The Peewee LL team has been racking up the wins lately, the result of hard work and coming together to play as a team. The boys were already playing some good hockey in preparation for the London tournament on the weekend of Jan 13-15th.
I don't know if it was the change of scenery or not but when we arrived in London these young men came to play!!
In our first game of the tournament we had a very tight contest against a tough team from London. Dalton Harrison scored his first goal of the season and it couldn't have come at a better time as it proved to be the winner as goaltender Tyler Rice kept all shots out of our net for the shut out and the Rams 1-0 win. Assists went to Alex Droog and Kieran White and MVP rights went to Dalton.
Friday afternoon seen the rams take Erindale on in our second game. Defenceman Chris Kelly stole the show with a hat trick and Keaton Fletcher and Carsten Cottingham adding singles as the Rams won 5-3. Jayson Dowling and Alex Droog added an assist each. Chris Kelly was the obvious choice for MVP of this game.
After a bad spill into the boards, forward Kieran White came away in some pain. A trip to the hospital revealed a fracture in his wrist and he was missed by his team for the rest of the tournament. We wish him a speedy recovery and are hopeful that he will get a chance to lace up his skates again later in the season.
Being done for the day, the boys had some time to hang out at the hotel pool and the parents got to know each other a little better over a few refreshments.
We knew going into Saturdays game that we were guaranteed first place in our pool but that didn't mean our boys would let up, as we put it to the Newmarket team for a final score of 6-1. Goals were scored by Dalton, Jordon and a pair each for Chris and Ryan. Assists were shared by most of the team in this game. MVP rights went to Ryan Pacheco for his efforts that game.
This set the team up for the semi-finals on Sunday morning. Ask any coach or parent in attendance at this game and I'm sure that everyone would say this was the most exciting game they have seen this year. The Kitchener Bombers had a big, tough, fast team and came out with the only goal of the first period. Goaltender Tyler Rice kept the rams in the game until Carsten Cottingham tied it up in the 2nd on an assist from Ryan Pacheco. Kitchener then went ahead early in the 3rd period. With 5 1/2 minutes left Chris Kelly and Mitchell Vanderlip set Carsten up to tie the game again. 45 seconds later the Bombers scored their third goal and it was getting pretty tense until Cottingham popped in his third of the game with only 43 seconds remaining. Dalton Harrison drew the assist on that goal. The game headed into 1 minute of 4 on 4 OT with chances at both ends. The next minute was played 3 on 3 with no one scoring again. Finally in triple overtime, playing 2 on 2 hockey, the Bombers stole the puck on a questionable play and went down the ice on a 2 on 1 that finished with a nice pass which the Kitchener player put top shelf over Rice. Carsten Cottingham was the MVP of this 4th and final game.
Regardless of this loss, the coaching staff were extremely proud of these young men who left everything on the ice that last game. That final game topped off a fantastic weekend away.
Coming back into WOAA league play, the boys still had that hunger in their bellies as we traveled around the bend to Ayton to take them on for the first time this season. The Rams started off quick with a goal from Jordon Allen on a pass from Jayson Dowling. The Rams added 2 more goals in the 2nd. One from Chris Kelly and "Big" Mitchell Vanderlip netting the first of his career while playing forward for a few shifts. Assists went to Jordon Allen, Keaton Fletcher and Chris Kelly. The 3rd period saw the Rams pop in 2 more with goals from Brennon MacRobbie and Carsten Cottingham with Alex Droog and Ryan Pacheco getting the assists. Tyler Rice made the saves when he needed to ensure the 5-0 shutout.
A couple days off then the Rams headed to Listowl to take on the Cyclones Thursday night. The last game we played against them ended in a close 3-2 Mt. Forest win. This time the Rams were not having anything close as they scored quick and often! Jordon Allen scored 2 goals, 8 seconds apart to put us up 2-0 less than 2 1/2 minutes into the game. Cottingham, Pacheco and Kyle Hieber had the helpers on the first two goals. Ryan Pacheco then made it 3-0 with Cottingham and Jayson Dowling adding to their assist totals. Brennon MacRobbie popped in one to make it 4-0 after the first period. Austin Mallot and Dalton Harrison were credited with the assists. Allen and Dowling then assisted on Carsten Cottinghams goal early in the 2nd and then Jordon Allen added 2 more goals, although they were 13 seconds apart this time. Dowling then added 1 more to make the final 8-0. Cottingham, Heiber, Harrison, Mallot and Pacheco (with 2) added the assists. Again Rice played well in the net to earn his 2nd shut out in a row.
With no break in the schedule we traveled to Drayton on Sunday for an afternoon tilt against the Defenders. The boys knew this was a tough team but came out strong with 3 goals in the first with Carsten, Chris and Jordon all finding the mesh. Tyler seen more rubber this game but still wouldn't let them score and after 2 periods it remained 3-0 Rams. Ryan added a quick one in the 3rd to squash the hopes of any comeback by the home team. Alex Droog then finished the scoring for the rams with a great deke on an end to end rush for the Captains first of the season. Harrison, Cottingham and Allen each had an assist. The final score was 5-0 with Rice getting his 3rd shut out in a row but more importantly the team was playing strong, defensive hockey and helping to not allow a goal since that heart breaker in triple overtime in London.
The improvements this team has shown so far this season proves to the coaches that these boys want to play hockey, win and have fun all at the same time. We are very proud of the play and effort of the team so far and hope we can keep this going heading into the playoffs."
Way to go guys!!!
The Peewee LL play Wed @ 7:30 in Harriston and close off the regular season this Saturday at home against Ayton @ 2:30
Go Rams Go