THE AWAKENING IN WINDSOR!!, News, Novice Blue, U9, 2013-2014 (Mt Brydges Minor Hockey)

This Team is part of the 2013-2014 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Feb 17, 2014 | Jamie Bond | 1776 views
THE AWAKENING IN WINDSOR!!
Once in a while, out of the blue, you will witness something that you wows you and you just can't explain it.  Well, that happened this weekend for the Novice Cougars Blue squad as we travelled to Windsor for the Families First Hockey Tournament!!!!

These little hooligans have been working hard all year and improving steadily, but this was like nothing I have ever seen.  We decided to dedicate the tournament to Katie Amos, who is out for the rest of the season after surgery, so maybe that had something to do with it.  We worked hard in our round robin and outscored our opponents 26-5.  It was absolutely crazy.  But then, we had to face Norwich in the semi final at 6pm on Sunday evening.  The kids had already played one game so they were getting tired.  Norwich was tough as they had outscored their opponents by about the same margin.  But then it happened.  The awakening occurred.  Our kids came out with what has become an unwelcomed tradition, the Nighthawks scored first very early despite some fierce backchecking.  But that is where it ended. No collapse this time.  Our Cougars went absolutely nuts and scored 7 unanswered goals.  And from unlikey sources.  The fans were awestruck.

So that set us up for the final game at 8:30pm on Sunday evening against the Strathroy Rockets.  The kids were exhausted but they had to scoop up enough energy to go out and play the game of their lives.  Coach Jamie took the kids up to the tourney committee room to see all of the hardware on display that they could win.  Their eyes lit up and you could see they were getting pumped.  Then we got dressed and if they weren't pumped yet, they were after the coach belted out a couple of Stompin Tom songs for them to stomp along to.  They were wired.  They started their chant of "I Want the Puck", and away they went.  All the parents and their little siblings were barely hanging on in the stands but these troopers went flying out onto the ice and took care of business.  They jumped out to a 4-0 lead early, and after a couple of goals by the Rockets that put a little bit of a scare into us, we were able to skate away with a 6-2 victory and the gold medal.  It was the capper to an amazing day and to really describe how fantastic it was, I am going to talk about each and every player and the amazing things they did:
#2 Sammy Joseph: Sammy played awesome and was able to get in his position each and every game. His key moments were in the semi when he was all over the puck, passing it and clearing it out of our end.  His other contribution is in the dressing room where he keeps everyone loose. You're the man Sammy!!!!
#3 Jack Harding: Jack has become quite the defenceman.  He scored a goal and an assist in the semi-final, but his real value showed as he thwarted many attacks by the oncoming forwards. He's even playing with an edge battling guys in front of the net and in the corners.  One of the other team's big boys even landed on top of Jack's head.  Ouch.  Jack also received the Player of the Game in the semi against Norwich. Lookin like Paneuf Jacker!!!
#4 Gavin McGahey-Smith: Gavin was our usual goal scoring machine with over 20 goals for the tournament, but he is also a crazy back checker and you could see how hard he works in the final as he was completely exhausted.  Gavin won Player of the Game honours in game #2 where he scored 5 goals. You're amazing Gav!!!
#7 Grant Waldin: Speaking of a "Holy Crap" game, Grant had one of those in Game #3.  He was all over the ice, back checking hard, carrying the puck, getting to his hash marks, and making passes. In one play, our dman shot it around the boards in our end to Grant, who carried it up, passed it to Eriss, who passed it to Ethan for a goal.  It's that exact breakout play that we have been practicing since Christmas.  Well Done.  Grant also got Player of the Game in that game #3. Nice job Grant!!!
#9 Katie Lunnie: Katie was not scared of anything.  And she never panics.  We panic when we watch her, but she just cooly and calmly went about her business and got the job done...again and again.  Big guys would come at her, she would steal the puck, turn around and pass it tape to tape to one of our awaiting forwards. Atta hang tough Katie!!!
#12 Spencer Whitney: Spencer is a crazy man.  He works so hard and gets to his position every single shift.  And he took pride in it all weekend.  One time I caught him out of position, I hollared at him...he dropped his shoulders, looked up at me, smiled, and went back at er.  You worked hard Spence!!! 
#14 Ethan Bond: Ethan was also a back checking, goal scoring machine with 14 goals for the tourney.  He did a good job all weekend supporting and cheering on his teammates.  Ethan, however, has two claims to fame that I have never seen before: 1. He rifled a wrist shot off one of the other teams face masks and it went directly into the net and 2. He tried to give the other goalie a high five and tell him nice try after he let in 7 goals, but he got denied.  It's the thought that counts though.  Ethan also got Player of the Game in the final. Proud of you E!!! 
#15 Cameron Wanlin: Cameron was our shut down king all weekend and especially in the final.  He stepped up shift after shift to stop the other team on countless breakaways.  He showed no fear and one time he thwarted a breakaway attempt and went flying up the ice with the puck and dished it off to a teammate. You stepped er up Cammer!!!
#16 Carson VanDerWeg: Carson was our steady eddie on defence.  He could chase down a jack rabbit and did so many times throughout the tournament.  He also made a couple of beautiful rushes up the ice, zig zagging through the entire team. Atta dig out there Cars!!!
#17 Eriss Doxtator: Eriss was a bull dozer out there all weekend.  Digging in the corners, pushing the puck up the ice, playing his position.....he did it all.  He even landed on top of some poor kid.....but everyone was ok. Eriss's biggest contribution was in the dressing room keeping it loose and starting the "I Want the Puck" cheer. Great weekend Eriss!!!
#18 Connor Noad: Connor played like a veteran all weekend, digging out pucks, hustling to the front of the net, back checking hard.  It was a thing of beauty.  In the semi, he got a beauty goal, but the play of the game was a nice feed out to Ethan who drained it for a goal.  Nicest assist all weekend Connor.
#19 Brady Dawson: Brady loves playing hockey more than anyone I know. He comes to the rink smiling and it never leaves his face.  He's getting to be a great little puck handler, but in the semi he did something I'll never forget. The kids know very well that show boating after a goal is not accepted on our team.  Brady scored a beauty goal and just glided with his arms up in the air.  All I could see was the biggest grin ever.  That's what I love about hockey. Nice effort Brady!!!
#30 Matty Koprowski: There is so much to say about Matty's weekend I don't know where to start.  His trademark "Flipper" saves left everyone in awe all weekend long.  Every single game, there was a point where the other team could have climbed back in it and Matty slammed the door shut.  And then we would go down and score and put another nail in the coffin.  His biggest improvement was jumping on the puck.  Matty also earned "Player of the Game" in our first game.  You're awesome Matty!!!

It was a great weekend for all, and I have to thank my fellow coaches for their help and for keeping it real. It's just a game and as long as the kids are learning and having fun, what more can the coaches or the parents ask.  Even if we didn't come home with the win, the kids gained an experience that will last a life time.  Also want to thank the parents for getting the kids to the rink early, for their unending support, and putting up with the terrible game times on Sunday.  It all worked for the best, but it wasn't an easy haul.

CONGRATULATIONS COUGARS BLUE!!!!  WE'RE PROUD OF ALL OF YOU!!!