Written by Dave Graff. The SMHA Perth Auto Dismantler Major Atom Rep team participated in the Detroit Red Wing Experience/Motown Classic tournament on the weekend in Detroit and came home champions after defeating the Sarnia Sting 2-1 in Sunday morning’s championship game.After game MVP Tallyn Soper made several saves to offset a slow start for the Warriors, Erik Smith opened the scoring on a goal mouth scramble assisted by Zach Freeland and Caleb Musselman to give Stratford a 1-0 lead after one period. A neutral zone turnover in period two allowed the Sting to tie the game and after both teams traded third period chances, Caleb Musselman netted the tournament winner with five minutes remaining from Zachari Carman and Spencer Eidt. The defense corps of Eidt, Nathan Graff, Michael Tigani, Jack Whitehead, Carter Musselman and Calaen Trupp continued their strong play and along with goalies Soper and Nolan Traynor allowed only one goal in the final 2 ½ games of the tournament.
In their round robin opener the Warriors could not find the back of the net despite carrying the play throughout the game, losing 3-1 to the BCH Ice Dogs. A second period marker from Owen Duiker assisted by Eidt and Graff tied the game briefly but the visitors quickly added two more goals to seal the Warriors fate.
After the loss, the Warriors bounced back Saturday and after falling behind Sarnia 3-1 they rebounded for a critical 4-3 win over the Sting at Joe Louis arena. Carter Stock buried the third period winner from Caleb Musselman and Carman. Colten Cowen with a pair and Caleb Musselman scored earlier goals for the winners while Carman, Carter Musselman, Braydon Tinning, Smith and Carman added assists.
In a must win final round robin game Saturday night the Warriors parlayed solid goaltending from Traynor into a 2-0 win over North Toronto. Caleb Musselman and Cowen tallied for the winners with assists going to Carman, Eidt, Smith and Trupp. Winger Brody Jeffrey and defenseman Whitehead had strong games for the winners.
The players, coaches and parents would like to pass on a thank you to team sponsor Perth Auto Dismantler and also Brokerlink Insurance for providing the coach bus to navigate the crew through some tough winter weather on Saturday.