Major Atom Crowned Silver Stick Champs, News (Owen Sound Minor Hockey Group)

The team started the tournament off with wins on Friday over Port Credit and Willowdale 6-3 and 7-1 respectively.  Two wins and +9 goal differential earned the Jr. Attack 1^st place after the preliminary round which was crucial.  It allowed them to receive a bye through the first round of elimination games and the ability to sleep in Saturday morning before their quarter final match up with the Toronto Eagles Saturday afternoon.  A 3-1 win over those Toronto Eagles allowed the Jr. Attack to advance to the semifinals Sunday morning.  The semifinal turned out to be a rematch with Port Credit who came out hungry to avenge their earlier loss to the Jr. Attack.  Alex Harris made a blocker save on a breakaway for the Jr. Attack and then his team mates took over.  The Jr. Attack scored early and never looked back advancing to the finals with a convincing 6-2 win.  The final matched the Jr. Attack up against the home town Vaughan Rangers.  The Rangers came out ready to impress in front of their home town fans and in their home rink.  Eric Meikle made some critical saves early to help withstand a push from the Rangers.  It took a period for the Jr. Attack to get going but in the second and third it was all Attack, ending in a 4-0 win and the championship banner! 

Alex Harris and Eric Meikle back stopped the team, while Ryan Cranny, Kole Hutchinson and Cooper Charyna led the team in scoring.  Defensively the team shut down the opposition in every game, especially the final, limiting Vaughn to only 7 shots.  In a unanimous decision, Emmett Arthur was voted team MVP. 

On January 18 the Leeder & Associates Jr. Attack will travel to Sarnia for the International Silver Stick Final tournament.  Anyone who has gone through minor hockey and played in Silver Stick knows how special this opportunity is for these players and coaches.  It will no doubt be a great weekend in January.