Jan 07, 2018 | Adam Schapp | 1161 views
Oshawa Challenge Tournament
The GWS Logistics Minor PeeWee Predators played in the Oshawa Challenge Tournament over the weeknd.
It was a great way to start off a New Year. Although the weather outside was really cold, the competition on the ice was heating things up. In their first game on Friday morning, the Predators defeated the Nickel City Sons by a score of 4-0. The cold weather may have played a small part in their second game Friday night, as the players were a little cooled off, and fell to defeat by a score of 3-0 to the Oshawa Minor Generals.
After a good night sleep in warm beds and celebrating Team Canada World Junior Championship, the players were ready for two more games on Saturday. Their third game of the tournament was against Central Ontario, and it played out like their previous meeting against the Wolves, drawing to a 2-2 tie. This meant the Preds had to defeat the Sudbury Wolves on Saturday night to make the playoff round on Sunday. After falling behind from an early goal, the Preds played a great rest of the game, and came away with a 5-1 victory, placing them in a semi-final rematch against the Host team from Oshawa.
This game would prove to be another close contest between the two teams, like all the previous 4 games against each other. Each team scored a goal in regulation time, and would see the game go into double overtime. The Predators would score the game winner with less than 30 seconds left in the second overtime frame to win the game 2-1 and place the team in the Championship game.
After a short rest, and time to refuel, the boys played against the Ottawa Vally Silver Seven in the finals. Again, the boys fell behind 1-0 early, but as before, battled hard. Some timely scoring and key saves, allowed the team to tie and take the lead 2-1 going into the third period. Midway through the third period, we would score an insurance goal, and then fend off a few late penalties to win the Championship 3-1.
Thank you to the coaching staff and families for all their support and efforts this weekend both away and at the rink. Congratulations on a well deserved Tournament Championship.