Jan 26, 2015 | Steve | 1058 views
Atom Kinucks - International Silverstick Experiences
As the current Regional Silverstick Champions, the Canadian Tire sponsored Kincardine Atom Kinucks had the honour of playing in the International finals, this past weekend. These kids got to witness the opening ceremonies and the singing of the national anthems before competing against the best teams around. Can these kids compete with the best? You bet they can!
All that said, as I watched developments unfold, it made me think about hockey and what the whole experience meant for these kids.
To paint the whole picture I should start at the beginning, which wasn't exactly the start that the Kinucks had hoped for. Enduring an 8-1 loss to Ingersoll, the kids were a little shell shocked after game #1. Were Ingersoll a good team? For sure, they're definitely a team with lots of skills. Was this possibly the Kinucks worst effort of the season? To be totally honest, it definitely was. Kincardine's talent laden team seemed to have stage fright, as they took on Ingersoll and their formidable winning record.
The kids were still trying to comprehend what had just happened to them, while they were being whisked to the next arena to play Elmvale Coyotes, who were the Wasaga Beach Silverstick champions. After an initial set back could they bounce back so quickly against another strong team? Absolutely, they could!
Cody McLelland would score the goal that would send them on their way to victory. Next up, would be Sam MacTavish as he expertly lifted a puck over the sprawling Coyotes goalie, following an excellent Noah Swann pass. It would be Noah Swann who'd notch two more, each time Elmvale tried to claw back on the Kincardine lead. The Kinucks were back, with a 4-2 win!
However, what would turn out to be their last experience of the International Silverstick would be a 2-1 sudden death overtime loss against Lambeth. A heart breaker! The Kinucks would not advance to the semi-finals by 0.033 of a point! A statistic that is difficult to swallow. Despite losing to the Kinucks, the three way tie mathematics would see Elmvale Coyotes progress to the next stage. Rubbing salt into the wound, the kids would hear that Lambeth would end up being the International Champions! Ouch! They were up against other good teams, no doubt! Could they have gone to the finals? Could have? Should have? The bounce of a puck? A little bit of luck? It was all over, but the kids should hold their heads high.
There are varying opinions on hockey in a small town. Hockey schools, power skating, shooting practice, spring hockey, thousands of dollars invested and many miles driven. Some people wonder if it's for the kids, or more for their parents?
Well, here's what I witnessed: Total silence! Their teachers probably wouldn't believe it, but the kids sat in the changing room; sweating, slumped, dejected and silent. I'd have to say that there were even a few tears! I saw a bunch of kids that gave it their all, for the best of the team. I saw kids console one another before finally realizing that they'd really been part of something great, that they could be proud of in the years to come. These kids know what its like to win, as well as having the perspective of how it feels to lose. All great life lessons, in my humble opinion.
I realized how much this meant to the kids. It meant everything! Ryan Tanner, the ever brilliant goalie. The defence of Holden Stevenson, Casey Beisel, Jared Houghton and Noah Page. All of them, fantastic, in the absence of the injured Nate Arnold!
I could write about the goals and the effort from Sam MacTavish, Cody McLelland and Noah Swann? Or maybe I could cover the offensive skills of Carson 'Teddy' Fletcher and Quinton Page? How about Alex Colley-Aquino? He might be younger or smaller than his opposition, but he's out there battling and backing down to no one! It's a similar story for Cam Fletcher. Bumped and shoved to the ice in front of the net, he'd be out next shift for more of the same!
So all in all, I've witnessed a great bunch of talented kids grow closer over the weeks, months and years. Winning with class and losing with dignity. Whatever your opinion of hockey or its politics might be, these kids continue to learn, both on and off the ice. I know that coaches, Doug MacTavish, Chris Wainwright and Len Arnold take great pride in the progress of these kids... I'm sure each players parent feels the same way. There's a lot to be proud of!