It has been five weeks since we have last
checked in to our web site and updated the fans of the Quinte Smiles/McCarten Travel/Landtech Design Novice AE Junior
Bulls. Our last post summarized a thrilling tournament victory near
Newmarket for the Regional Silver Stick in the middle of December. We
head south now to St. Clair Shores Michigan this upcoming weekend for the
International Silver Stick tournament finals on a winning note and with much
optimism. This Silver Stick period book ended a busy and tumultuous time
for our budding hockey players that, it is hoped, our kids can draw valuable
experience from heading into this weekend and our February playoff run.
Immediately following our victory, we were on the ice for the next 8 out of 10 days heading into Christmas. Six practices and 2 very important games, the first of which was played against Quinte West. This defence first based team has a big boned goalie that fills the net. Our Bulls got down early 2-0 but fought back in the third period to tie the game 4-4 by the final buzzer. The following day our players suited up for a tilt with the Whitby Wildcats. This is a team that we have yet to beat but have managed to tie four times this season. This game would end with the same result. Belleville had a great start, as they usually do in the first period and led 1-0 heading into the second due to an unassisted goal by Isaiah More. Whitby fought back in the second with two goals of their own until Reed Andrus tied the score with an individual, end to end rush, scoring with one second left on the clock. Our Junior Bulls threw everything they had at their feline foe in the third which included a final few second flurry and an open shot from the slot that was snatched by their goalie’s glove hand. Another draw. A great weekend effort but they were ultimately disappointing decisions for a team that needed two victories to hold onto second place in the regular season division standings. Those ties, although well earned, would demote our team to a third place finish by seasons’ end.
After Christmas and a few more practices, the Quinte Smiles/McCarten Travel/Landtech Design Novice AE Bulls took a belly full of turkey and cranberry sauce into Peterborough. Although the coaches would like to blame the result on an overdose of tryptophan from the turkey, our opponent was and has been all season more prepared to work hard every shift and every period. Our players put in a great effort here and there but took whole periods off and let the skill of a better opponent dictate the play. The end result was two losses before (5-2) New Year’s and (4-1) after New Year’s. The impression that was left and the hope is that every player learned a lesson about the need to be focussed and determined for an entire game, not just pieces of it.
Ten days, a couple practices and snow storms later, we would face the Oshawa Generals in Oshawa. Our Bulls were flying in the first and second, putting up a 5-0 lead. Coaches then took the liberty of playing kids in different positions to give everyone an appreciation for what it takes to play where your teammates normally does and this allowed the Generals to fight back into the game. The big lead turned into a 7-6 win in the end and big saves by Ethan Yuke were needed to preserve the victory. Isaiah More was player of the game
In the first game of our final regular season weekend our team would play against the 20-1-1 Peterborough Petes. Once again, our boys would start the game with a great first period from the goalie out to our forwards. A goal by Isaiah More, assisted by Sam Brearley and Brett Keene would give them the lead. A strong and scoreless second period was very encouraging for fans and coaches alike. In the third, our focus and determination trailed off as the hustle and go factor turned into a lacklustre observation of a more skilled team keeping the puck in our end for close to the entire period. Three unanswered goals sealed our 3-1 loss. Coaches were forceful in their attempts to explain to our Bulls that victory is earned by a complete effort from puck drop to final buzzer and that ultimately, we don’t play for ourselves, our parents or any other influence, we play for the crest on the jersey and our teammates that sit beside you. You set an example in every shift you play for the next shift to come out. Ice time doesn’t mean anything unless it is a shift that encapsulates all your effort for the entire time that you are on the ice. Birthday boy Brett Keene was player of the game
Setting and understanding the necessity of focus, determination, and effort paid off in the final game of the season this past Sunday. Our boys came out strong and finished equally as strong. Coaches were very impressed with how our team effectively displayed and utilized a number of different strategies to beat a vastly improved and scrappy Oshawa General team. It wasn’t a period or two of well played hockey but rather an complete puck drop to final buzzer type effort. Win or lose, that is what we need moving forward. This past Sunday....it proved to be a victorious effort. Isaiah More had two goals while Travis Whitemore and Noah Roy had one each. Alexander Black had two assists and Sam Brearley had one. Player of the game was Zack Goyer who was a solid presence on the blue line.
Good luck down in Michigan boys and remember the valuable lessons learned over the past five weeks. To compete with teams, we need to be focussed, determined, and selfless in our approach. You don’t play for you, you play for the guy beside you. Work for him because you can be sure, he is going to work for you.