The busy weekend that the Tyke Burgundy Crusaders had was WELL worth it. After Friday nights practice it was GAME TIME!!!! Saturday morning the kids travelled down County Road 25 for a battle against Elma Logan. The game was swift, with end to end action. The game ended in a 2-2 tie. Both goals were scored by the lethal Wesley Pipes Marks. A solid outing in goal by Mad Dog Maddie Hickling preserved the 2-2 tie.
Early Sunday morning the parents and kids of the Tyke Burgundy Crusaders battled through "not so nice" road conditions on the way to Arthur to partake in their Tournament.
First up was The Oro Dynamite. The Crusaders were all over the Dynamite team. Out shooting their opponent by at least 35 shots. The goalie from Oro literally stood on his head stopping every shot fired at him by our kids, posting a well deserved shut out. Our kids threw everything at him including the kitchen sink. This game against Oro was definitely the best game of our season.....hands down. Maybe a sign of things to come in our next 2 games perhaps?
YOU BETCHYA!!!! Next up was the Erin Hillsburgh White Devils!!! The team continued their strong play both offensively and defensively. Wesley Pipes and Everett Happy Gilmore Cherrey lead the way offensively. Pipes with 5 goals and Happy with 2. Assists went to Justin Case Fleet, Will The Thrill Nesbit, Maddie Mad Dog Hickling and Connor "Moosling" Kellington, just to name a few. Excellent back checking was displayed by Nesbit, Cherrey, and Marks. Positional play was superb by all leading to a 7-4 victory. Brooklyn The Brawler Bromley recorded the victory turning aside many tough in close shots.
In our third and final game of the tournament we played against the Erin Hillsburgh Black Devils. The kids came to play. Rowdy Rowdy Hayden Piper came to play net! Our team motto of
forecheck, back check, pay check!!!!!! was followed with no questions asked. We skated to a 8-0 win. Goal scorers for this dominant performance were Pipes with 3, Happy with 2, Justin Case with 2 and Will the Thrill with 1. Justin Case and Will the Thrill worked very hard in the previous 2 games but came up short. They wouldn't be denied in the final match of the day. The Erin Hillsburgh Black Devils had met their match!!
The day was filled with fun, play and laughter. And yes, even dance. When the players were getting ready for their games, the tunes were pumping. And the Mother's and the kids had a dance party getting warmed UP!! That was the first time I had ever seen or heard of that in all my years playing hockey. LOL!!!! Great job Mommy's!!
The tournament provided player of the game awards for each of the 3 games. Game 1 went to the hard skating, feisty Justin Case Fleet who had 10 shots on net in the first game. Game 2 went to Wesley Pipes Marks who tallied 5 goals but more importantly showed grit with timely back checking and great team play. Game 3 player of the game award went to, who I thought was our best defenseman of the weekend, Keenan The Barbarian Courtney. He wasn't flashy but played tough D, and did not make it easy on the opposing teams.
These 11 kids made me, Derek Cherrey, The Head Coach, very proud to be their coach. The way these 11 kids represented Blyth/Brussels and their parents was amazing. Firstly showing up dressed to impress. Staying together as a team, not running around the arena, saying their please and thank you's and following instruction were greatly appreciated and noticed by many. I am privileged and appreciate the opportunity to coach all of you. Great memories for me. One of those memories I will always remember is seeing the kids smiles when I presented them their
GOLD MEDALS that they so greatly deserved!!!!
Coach Derek