Oct 19, 2014 | Steve | 542 views
Three Outa Four Aint Bad for Atom Kinucks
The Canadian Tire sponsored Kincardine Atom Kinucks headed into a busy week of four games, with their unbeaten record at risk during such a busy schedule.
First up was a Wednesday night game against the BCH Ice Dogs. In what is becoming a bit of a bad habit, the kids from Kincardine would go behind early. However, they would come back strong and run out 8-1 victors at the final buzzer. Although the Kinucks probably picked up more penalties than they might have liked in this one, it was good start to the week.
The following night would see the Mitchell Meteors visit Kincardine. The Meteors were expected to come out strong, since they were licking their wounds from a 6-4 home loss to the Kinucks, a week earlier. Mitchell lived up to expectations as they cruised into a 3-0 lead in the second period. This is a well coached and hard skating Mitchell team, meaning that Kincardine were going to have to battle hard if they were going to get any kind of result.
Noah Swann would get the Kinucks on the score sheet, ably assisted by Jared Houghton. Cody McLelland would be the next to notch one as he burst through the middle of the Mitchell defence, feeding from a beautiful Quinton Pagé pass. Mitchell would stretch their lead to 4-2 only for Carson Fletcher to pull one back, again picking up an exquisite pass, this time from Alex Colley-Aquino. Colley-Aquino is racking up the assists in his first year of Atom hockey.
With one minute remaining, Cam Fletcher looked to have written the headlines with a game tying goal, making it 4-4. Fletcher bundled in a Cody McLelland pass and the celebrations ensued. Unfortunately the celebrations were short lived when the Meteors claimed a game winning goal, scrambling in a loose puck with 14 seconds remaining on the clock. This was heart breaking for the Kinucks. That said, it's maybe not such a bad thing in the grand scheme. Bringing the kids back down to earth a little.
Saturday saw the Kinucks take on their big local rivals, the Saugeen Shores Storm. A talent laden Kinucks team inflicted a heavy 13-0 victory over the Storm. To be honest, a comprehensive victory like that was a little difficult to watch at times, as the Kinucks were encouraged to pass as much as they could. In the meantime, the hard skating Storm gave it their all, from the first buzzer to the last.
The scoring was obviously extensive as the talented Noah Swann lead the way with a 6+3 performance.. After that various players got amongst the goals such as Cam Fletcher (2), Sam 'McIntosh' MacTavish, Carson 'Teddy' Fletcher, Cody McLelland, Quinton Pagé. Maybe the most notable goal came from 'The Crocodile Hunter' Noah Page, who blasted his first goal of the season from the blue line!
It was the same story with assists as many individuals contributed in a game where the Kinucks passed the puck very well. As is now becoming expected Alex Colley-Aquino chipped in with two assist, closely followed by: Casey Beisel (2), Nate Arnold (2), Cam Fletcher (2), Sam MacTavish, Carson Fletcher, Nate Arnold, Quinton Pagé and Holden Stevenson. It should be noted that Casey Beisel picked up her 2 assists playing her first game as a forward, where she played exceptionally well.
Really, the last thing that should be mentioned is Ryan Tanner. Unfortunately for the Storm, when they did get a chance they had to get past the formidable 'Berlin Wall'. As ever, Tanner was more than simply reliable in the Kincardine net.
Finally, the Kinucks faced off against the Goderich Sailors on Sunday night. Kincardine would collect a 5-1 win in this one, securing their top of the division position, for the time being at least. It has to be said that the Kinucks played some exceptional passing hockey. Had it not been for some stellar Goderich goaltending and defending, I think its is fair to say that it could have been a lot more.
The speedy Quinton Pagé notched 2 goals, along with Carson Fletcher, Noah Swann and Cody McLelland, who also got goals to their names. Against the Sailors it has to be said that McLelland was outstanding throughout, not just for goals, but more so his tireless work ethic.
Assists would go to Alex Colley-Aquino (2). (Wow, now that's a surprise!) Also getting in on the assists were: Cody McLelland (2), Noah Page and Noah Swann.
As the Kinucks prepare for next weeks Tillsonburg tournament, another promising fact was that they're picking up fewer and fewer penalties. This had been a little problematic, obviously resulting in extended periods of penalty killing for Kincardine. Things still aren't exactly perfect in that area, as Nate Arnold, Quinton Pagé and Cam Fletcher, all found themselves getting a couple of minutes of penalties against Goderich. In fact, for a kid that didn't collect any penalties last season, Mr Pagé seems to be enjoying some fairly regular 'rest time' in the Kincardine penalty box! Conversely, Cam Fletcher looked to have given up his penalty collecting days of previous seasons, as the 2014-2015 campaign got underway. However, this seems to have been short lived, as he looks to have rediscovered the comfort of the penalty box, in this weeks games!!!