The Harold Sutherland Peewee JR Attack showed they can compete with the best in the province. The 2017 St Thomas tournament proved to be an ideal measuring stick of the teams development. While coach DJ Selkirk commented, “There is still work to be done”, the 2005 Harold Sutherland Peewee JR Attack battled hard in all four games and finished the tournament with a very respectable GF % of 0.588, tied with the number one provincially ranked St Thomas Stars. Sadly both teams were sent packing on the Saturday, showing how tight the battle is between the province's top A division teams.
Game 1
The first match up of the tournament was against the Amherstburg Stars. The Stars finished off the 2017 season ranked #4 in Ontario. A three hour drive starting at 6 am for most of the team didn’t help the team get the jump they needed in the first game. The Attack played to a tight 2-0 loss, but never reached the scoring form we have become accustomed to this season.
Game 2
A good lunch and the Attack’s offence hit the reset button for game number two. The Attack dominated the play from start to finish skating away with a 7-1 victory over the Grimsby Peach Kings. Bryce Martin left with a collection of hats, Kaleb Slater added a pair, Cody Cox and Ronan Helder added singles.
Game 3
Owen Sounds 1-1 tie was possibly the most disappointing result of the tournament. The smaller ice surface at Memorial Arena didn’t play to Owen Sound’s strengths. Two or three pucks got completely past the Mt. Bridges Cougers goalie but failed to find the back of the net, one sitting painfully on the goal line for what seemed like the wait for Owen Sound’s three downtown traffic lights. Kaleb Slater was the game’s hero scoring the Attack’s only goal of the contest, with the helper from Cam Moore.
Game 4
Erie Northshore proved to be one of the faster teams that Owen Sound has played against this year. Erie took an early lead but Nate Doran’s flip goal from behind the net with the helper awarded to Markus Granjnar Ptok evened the score midway through the second. A pair of offsetting penalties with just three minutes to play opened the ice up to some exciting four on four hockey. Erie jumped to a two goal lead with 2:52 left to play, but Owen Sound didn’t quit. Just 20 seconds later, Bryce Martin pulled the team to within one with a beautiful breakaway goal. Both teams pressed hard to the end, the game finished in a 3-2 heart breaker for the Attack. The Erie Northshore would eventually go on to win the tournament in a 3-2 victory over Owen Sound’s league rival the Woolwich Wildcats.
The Harold Sutherland Peewee JR Attack will be back on the road next Saturday for the first of a series of double headers. Game one is in Halton Hills at 11 am, followed by a quick 30 min trip down the road for a 4:45 tilt in Hespler.