The Canadian
Tire Atoms are in preparation mode for the upcoming regional Silver Stick
Tournament which takes place Dec 01-08
in Wingham.
After bringing home the Bill Batten Championship crown, the Atoms were back in action on Fri Nov 15 for a dance in the Mitchell Barn. There must have been a bit of a “Championship” hangover as the local boys played okay, but not their best by far. Not to take anything away from a determined Mitchell squad, but the CTC team seemed a step slow and played with a bit of no-pass-itis. Despite all that, the game was fairly evenly matched until the 9:30 mark of the first when Jordan Moulton picked the puck up on a scramble in his own end, went coast to coast and saucered a beauty in the top corner, assisted by Darcy Scott. This lead lasted a grand total of 28 seconds as Mitchell’s hard work paid off with two seconds remaining in the first, as they banked one in from a goal mouth scramble.
With no scoring in the second, the local lads took another one goal lead five minutes into the third when Jordan Beisel picked up the puck at his own blue-line, completed a couple of sweet dekes, including the goalie and buried an unassisted tally. The lead seemed tenuous at best as the Meteors seemed to be playing with more intensity and were heavier on the puck than the Kinucks which paid off when the home squad tied the game with a minute and thirty seconds remaining. Kincardine goalie Ryan Tanner tried his best to shut the door but his teams’ own end give-aways, weak defensive zone coverage and lack of intensity cost them their regular season unbeaten streak as the Mitchell squad jumped on a loose puck in the Kincardine end and buried the game winner a mere 25 seconds after potting the equalizer. Although not a barn-burner, this was an exciting contest with Mitchell squeaking out the 3-2 win.
Just two days later on the sched for the Kinucks was a home tilt in Ripley against the Walkerton Capitals. Kincardine outplayed the Capitals for the better part of the game and got back on the winning side with a 2-0 victory. The Kinucks did have an edge in puck control but a strong Walkerton goalie and some in accurate shooting kept this one close. Goalie Gordie Reaume came up big when needed to get the shut-out.
The following weekend, the CTC Atoms played a friendly, once again in the Ripley arena, with Ripley hosting the Kinucks in an exhibition match. Both teams played a good game with the Ripley goalie standing on her head. She seemed to have a target on her chest, or the Kincardine shooters needed their sights adjusted as they hit her there numerous times. After a scoreless first frame, Cameron Renaud broke the ice at the 7:40 mark of the second when, with his mates on a line change, he picked up the puck at centre ice, slid it past the Ripley defender, stepped around that same D, picked up the puck and fired a low wrister that squeaked by the previously unbeatable Ripley goalie. This invigorated the Kincardine squad who tried their best to increase their lead but were thwarted time and again by missed passes, chest hitting shots and a strong Ripley back check. With Ripley being only a shot away from tying this nail biter and Kincardine on the penalty kill, Ripley pulled the goalie for the extra attacker. This backfired for the junior Wolves as, on a delayed Ripley penalty, Jordan Moulton sent Jordan Beisel on a rush who buried the empty netter. Ryan Tanner in the Kincardine goal wasn’t tested often but was strong when called upon and picked up the 2-0 shutout.
The CTC Atoms have a few practices scheduled in the upcoming days in an effort to work out the bugs, hone their skills and prepare for the upcoming Silver Stick which starts with a match against the Tavistock Titans on Sun Dec 01 @ 10:05 am in Wingham.