Written by Dave Graff. The SMHA Perth Auto Dismantler Major Atom rep team put on a very good showing in the annual Guelph Powerplay minor hockey tournament on the weekend allowing only 10 goals in six games played and finishing runner up after losing 4-2 to Cambridge in the Championship game.
A fast start by the Hawks caught the Warriors on their heels early in the tournament final and the visitors found themselves down 4-0 part way through period 2. The Warriors carried most of the play for the last half of the game and goals by Caleb Musselman and Brody Jeffrey made things interesting before the Hawks settled down defensively and shut the door on the Warrior comeback bid. Colton Cowen and Zach Freeland had assists in the final game.
In the semi-final game earlier Sunday the Warriors parlayed strong defensive play and solid goaltending from game MVP Nolan Traynor into a 2-1 win over Innisfil. After a scoreless first period Cowen opened the scoring early in the second period with assists going to Spencer Eidt and Nathan Graff. In the third period Owen Duiker buried a shot short side off a nice three way pass play with Braydon Tinning and Jack Whitehead. That turned out to be the winning goal after Innisfil scored a powerplay goal late in period three to make things interesting but the Warriors weathered the storm.
In round robin play the Warriors opened with a 1-0 loss to Innisfil. Game MVP Traynor was sharp when he had to be but his teammates couldn’t find the net behind a strong opposing goalie. Game two saw a much better effort and resulted in a 3-2 win over Meadowvale. Cowen, Tinning and Zachari Carman scored for the winners with Erik Smith and Whitehead adding assists. Game three was a preview of the final and a well played game by both the Warriors and Cambridge ended in a 2-2 tie. After the Hawks went ahead on a penalty shot goal with just over two minutes to play, Cowen added his second of the game to gain the Warriors the much needed point. Eidt, Graff, Carman and Whitehead had assists for the Warriors. In the final round robin game goalie Tallyn Soper recorded the shutout in a 2-0 Warrior win over host Guelph. Cowen and Duiker scored for the winners with Carman, Freeland and Caelan Trupp adding assists.