Following a heartbreaking shoot out loss in the semi-final of the Chris Knott tournament, the Atom AE Kinucks hoped for some better luck in the 2013 Regional Silver Stick. The team would be lead into battle by goalies Jared Petrie and Johnny Graham. A goaltending partnership that has to be up there with the best and strongest in their division.
The Silver Stick would mean an early Friday morning start for the Kinucks and a welcome day off from school, for the players! To open the tournament Kincardine lined up with Bailey Pierson, Carson Boettinger and Jessie Anderson for the first shift. You know what you're getting with this line of forwards, grit and hard work. Despite 'Chuck Norris' Pierson picking up a couple of early penalties the Kinucks would fend off some initial pressure, to make an excellent start to the tournament, beating the Ilderton Jets 3-1. Goals would be collected by Bailey Pierson, Zack Eyebergen and Noah Page, with assists going to Sam MacTavish, Brock Courtney and 'Silky Mits' Aiden Berkmen.
The second game of the tournament would secure the Kinucks passage to the knock out stages with a 4-0 victory over Lucan. The goals in this game would be provided by Zack Eyebergen (2), David Ulak and Jessie Anderson. Assists were attributed to Brock Courtney and Bailey Pierson. Two wins from two and the Kinucks were flying.
On the Saturday, although the Kinucks were already assured of a quarter final place, they still had to complete their group games against the Mooretown Jets, in what was a must win game for the opposition. Although not particularly physical, the officiating resulted in a game that was littered with penalties. Pierson, Ulak, Courtney, MacTavish and Stevenson would all spend some time in the 'sin bin', but the game would still prove to be a thriller. Maybe not surprisingly, the Kinucks would lose this game 1-0, as the Jets scored on a 5 on 3 powerplay.
The Sunday quarter final matched Kincardine against the Listowel Cyclones. This game was not for the faint hearted, as it proved to be an edge of your seat encounter! As always, the Kinucks were able to rely upon solid defensive performances from Caydence Gibson, Dakota Condie and Lauren 'Lidstrom' Thede, all of whom were excellent throughout the entire tournament.
The Kinucks certainly had their chances to win this with excellent scoring chances falling to Sam MacTavish and Zack Eyebergen, resulting in equally impressive saves coming from Myles Novotny in the Cyclones net. However, if the truth be known, the Cyclones also had their own scoring chances. One of which, they converted in the second period, making it 1-0.
The Kinucks would pile on the pressure, hoping to tie things up. Noah Page and Carson Boettinger went incredibly close to getting Kincardine on the score sheet. Attacking defenseman Cam Fletcher also stick handled through the Cylones players, before firing microns wide!
In desperation, the Kinucks would pull goalie, Jared Petrie, to try and keep their hopes alive. With the big guns of Tomas Nancekivell and Holden Stevenson on the blue line, the breakthrough just didn't arrive. Thrilling until the very end, the Kinucks were out of the Silver Stick. This might have been hugely disappointing, but the players should hold their heads high for the superb performances that they delivered.