The Similkameen News Leader
Sports Page - January 29, 2008
COACH TALKS MINOR HOCKEY
The Atom Flyers attended the Merritt Invitational tournament this past weekend. Teams, from Logan Lake, Williams Lake, Chilliwack and Merritt completed in a weekend of hockey fun.
Our first game against the home town Merritt Red Rockets eased the team as they proceeded to light up the red light for a 9-0 win Friday night. The coaching staff switched the line-up mixing several line combinations, emphasis was placed on play-making to hone some of those practice skills.
Cache's line combined for a total of 9 points with Parker, Avin, Cache, Mort and Kolton finding the back of the net. Avin Gill scored a highlight reel goal when he cleanly beat the Merritt defense going in alone with an amazing backhand shot.
We faced a big city team from Chilliwack Saturday morning. Our kids demonstrated they can play an impressive defensive game as well. Allowing only 5 shots the entire game through some impressive back checking and fore checking at the blue line. The Defensive pairings of Craig, Kolton, Avin, and Parker put up an impenetrable wall at the blue line stopping the Chilliwack offence. The combination of Cache, Mort and Craig combined for the Flyers goals as Cache combined for three for the hat trick.
The third game against the Logan Lake Leafs started off extremely fast. The newly formed line combination of Hayden, Breanne and Brett initiated the scoring quickly after the opening face off. Directly off the face off Hayden won the draw moving the puck into the Logan Lake end passing off to Brett with Breanne getting a rebound scoring her first goal of the year. Breanne would go onto score a second goal before the period was over.
Another first came early in the second when Tanner Sulentich pounced on a loose puck quickly firing a shot past an out stretched goal tender. As the game progressed the players continued to refine their game skills passing back and forth on the defense and cycling down low setting up a total of nine goals against a goose egg. Ryan was finally tested when we received a tripping penalty late in the third and Logan Lake received a penalty shot.
Ryan played it flawless when he skated out challenging the shooter skating well in front of the net cutting off any angle and opening as he moved back into his crease and finally sliding sideways making a sensational pad save. Every one on the team contributed with this offensive hockey demonstration.
Additional scoring and assist contributions from Tristan, Cole, Avin, Jacob, Parker, Brett, Cache, Mort and Craig. Breanne received the player of the game breaking out scoring her first two goals. Tanner Sulentich experienced an outstanding game as well picking up his game tempo. The Flyers were seeded first overall moving them into the A-Final game against the Chilliwack Knights. Inspiration was provided from a quote Larry Bird (a famous Basketball player) made when asked by a reporter what does it take to win? His response - everything you got! Well the kids gave everything proving they are unquestionably the best team in the tournament.
The Knights coaching staff knew they had to try something different after we handled them easily in the round robin. They proceeded to place one of their best players behind our defense for most of the game to generate some scoring. This strategy didn't work as our defense ignored the floater and continued to pin their team in their end for most of the game.
Finally the coach abandoned this tactic as we enjoyed two periods essentially a man advantage for half the game. Seven different players contributed to our offensive scoring. The Flyers won the A-final 7-2 to win the tournament with a 28 goals for versus 5 against, an amazing +23 in 4 games. Overall, the coaching staff is extremely proud of the players as they have taken their game to a new level utilizing skills they have learned and applied to their game. They proved and demonstrated good sportsmanship throughout the tournament with few penalties and good team work and support from all the players.
