Caledonia U11 Team 1 continued their strong play into the Caledonia Challenge Cup Tournament this past weekend.
On Friday, January 13, Team 1 started off the tournament with great play and Friday the 13th good luck in defeating Caledonia Team 2 by a score of 5-3. After falling behind 1-0, Fletcher F (assist Teddy B) and James G (assist Jaxon C) gave Team 1 the 2-1 lead after one period of play. In the 2nd period, the score was brought to 3-2 before Violet E set up Zach A for a goal to extend the lead back to two goals. In the 3rd period, a save by goalie Davin S on a breakaway by Team 2, and goals by Chase W (assist Jaxon C) and Layton H (assist Fletcher F) put Team 1 ahead to stay, the final score 5-3. Jaxon C was awarded MVP for the game for Team 1 with his two assists, including a great no-look backhand assist to James G in the first period.
On Saturday, Team 1 opened the morning against a strong Delhi squad. In the first period, Zach A and James G each scored unassisted goals, and Jaxon C made a great glove save to end the period with Caledonia ahead 2-0. In the 2nd, James G would add a 2nd goal of the game, and the defence of Blake L, Teddy B, Nixon Y, Drew G, Molly F, and Nate C would hold Delhi at bay until a few seconds left in the period. Unfortunately, Delhi's centre went on a scoring streak to end the 2nd that continued into the 3rd, and Caledonia fell by a score of 5-3 despite a good effort. James G was awarded MVP of the game for Caledonia for his strong two-way play and goals.
Faced with elimination from the tournament, Caledonia knew they would need to defeat the Huntsville Otters in the afternoon game if they wanted to advance to Sunday's semi-final.
In the afternoon match, Zach A would open the scoring in the 1st period (assists Molly F and Nate C) to give Caledonia the 1-0 lead after one period of play. In the 2nd, Noah K would use his speed to get past the Huntsville defence, scoring to put the score at 2-0 for Caledonia (assists once again to Molly F and Nate C). The line of Fletcher F, Zach A, and Layton H picked up where they left off in the Port Dover tournament, taking the play continuously into the Huntsville end, before Fletcher and Layton would set up Zach with his 2nd goal of the game. Noah K would keep pace with Zach, also adding a 2nd goal in the game before the end of the period, assists to Molly F and Violet E. The defence of Nixon Y, Drew G, Molly F, Nate C, Blake L, and Teddy B continued to shut down any offence generated by Huntsville. In the 3rd, Chase W (assists James G and Jaxon C) would add a 5th goal for the Thunder. The Thunder also needed to preserve a strong goals against to advance to the semis, and faced with a breakaway from Huntsville towards the end of the game, goaltender Davin S forced the Otters forward wide with a great save, preserving the shutout victory for the Thunder. MVP of the game was Zach A for his excellent two-way play.
The Thunder knew they would be in tough in the semis against a strong Waterford team that had went undefeated on their side of the pool play in the tournament. Despite an early break and goal by the Waterford defender, Caledonia would respond in the early part of the game with a goal by James G who blew past the Waterford defence to even the game at one. Despite some excellent flashes of the leather with his glove hand by goalie Jaxon C, Waterford would eventually go ahead 2-1. Yet again, the Thunder responded, with Drew G assisting Chase W on a goal where Chase would deke out the Waterford goaltender with a great backhanded goal. At that point in the game, the speed of the Waterford team would start to put them ahead, with the score 6-3 after two periods of play. Caledonia wouldn't go away quietly, however, with Fletcher F and Layton H collecting assists as Zach A would score on a wicked deke move, going upper corner on a backhand shot. Unfortunately, the Waterford defence was able to shut down Caledonia from there, winning 8-3. Caledonia MVP was given to Drew G for his strong defensive play throughout the game and entire tournament.
Overall, it was a great tournament played by the entire team, who are looking forward to beginning the playoffs soon!
