Feb 05, 2017 | scott parker | 601 views
SILVER STICK FINALISTS
The Atoms ventured to Saugeen Shores on the weekend to play in the Atom C Silver Stick.
Tournament play got underway Friday morning with our girls squaring off against the hometown Saugeen Shores team. The Rams were a bit sluggish in the game but dominated from the outset en route to a 11-0 win. Our second game later on Friday was versus a rock solid Ottawa Valley Thunder. The team from the east was intimidating with their size alone not to mention their hockey skills. The Rams played a very solid game but ended up on the wrong side of a 1-0 final score.
Saturday morning's game was against the Tillsonburgh Lightning and it was do or die for both teams. Mt. Forest could do no worse than a tie to move on to the semi-finals. Our team came to play in this early morning contest and prevailed 3-1. This win secured the girl's ticket to the semi later that night vs the Lucan Irish who finished first in their respective pool. Lucan was a small but extremely fast and skilled team. The Lady Rams scored in the first period and that would be the only goal scored for the contest. The entire 3rd period was to say the least intense but our girls stood strong and came away with a 1-0 win to punch their ticket to Sunday's finale.
The table was set and it would be a rematch against the team from Ottawa for the championship. This was our girl's fourth tournament final this year and definitely their toughest test. Ottawa would score late in the first period and carry that lead till late in the third. In an attempt to even the score Mt. Forest pulled their goalie with 4:50 left on the clock, when the face-off was deep in Ottawa's end and 15 seconds later after a scramble in front of the net we finally beat the netminder to even the score 1-1. The girls had a couple of other good chances in regulation to get the win but just couldn't manage to get the puck in the back of the net. Off to overtime and 4 on 4 we would go and with one minute expired a silky smooth Ottawa player dangled around our players and scored the game winner. Although our Lady Rams unfortunately didn't get the win they still can be proud of this huge accomplishment. The Silver Stick is perhaps the most coveted title in minor hockey and to be a finalist is something no one can take lightly or ever take away from this young group of 13. These girls will see this 2016-17 Atom C Finalist banner hanging in the rafters at their home rink everytime they step foot in to the arena. Truly an amazing feat, well done girls Mt. Forest is super proud of your accomplishment!