The Evoke Marketing Tier I Novice Warriors erased a two goal deficit in the third period to win the Preston International Hockey Tournament Novice A division title with a 4-3 overtime victory over the Oakridge Aeros, January 15.
Noah Brosens got the start and was called upon to make several great saves.
After spotting the Aeros a two goal lead, Ryan Cassone tapped it back to Colston Kibedi and he fired a blistering shot that the goalie stopped but Colten Brenzil jumped on the rebound and buried it with 2:46 left in the second period. The teams were even with 11 shots apiece after two.
Early in the third, the Aeros Carter Hicks drove hard to the net and went skates first high and hard into Brosens driving the puck and Brosens into the back of the net to make it 3-1. With Brosens injured on the play, Reed Bowles came in. He made a couple big glove saves and then the Warriors took advantage of an Oakridge penalty. Brenzil won the draw and Mark Martin picked it up and fed Casen deGraaf. The rebound deflected to Cassone and he buried it.
Two minutes later, Owen Chambers found Rylan DeBoeck on the right side and he raced up ice and Cole Hishon was there to flip the rebound in for a 3-3 tie.
Seconds later, Bowles flashed the leather snagging one headed top corner. He made several great saves as the Aeros pressed especially during two power plays late in the third.
In overtime, the Warriors were hungry. With just under three minutes to go Chambers was hauled down on a rush handing the Warriors a power play. Then seconds later Oakridge was penalized again. Brenzil won the draw at the blueline and Cassone slipped it back to Colston Kibedi. He found Chambers wide open on the far side and he rifled a shot on net that Hishon was able to tip in.
The Warriors opened the tournament with an impressive 6-0 victory over the Oshawa Generals. Chambers opened the scoring late in the first with a dazzling end to end rush before slipping it under the netminder. Owen Hunt and Taten Mikel picked up the assists.
After a scoreless second, the Warriors came out firing in the third. Kibedi kept it in at the point and dished it down to Cassone. His shot was stopped but Owen Blain was there to backhand in the rebound.
Two minutes later Hunt kept it in at the point and found Charlie Holloway on the boards. He slipped it across to Owen Bridges spun and fired for a 3-0 lead. Less than a minute later the same five guys combined to make it 4-0. Blain won the draw and the puck slipped back to Kibedi he found Bridges and he slid a nifty pass threw the defenders to Holloway who was sitting alone out front and he buried it.
A minute later Chambers broke up a pass at our blueline and weaved through the defenders before sliding the backhander in for a 5-0 lead.
Cassone made it 6-0 after the setup by Blain. Brosens wasn't busy but he made timely stops to earn the shutout.
In game two, the Warriors faced West Lorne and this time Bowles got the start. Scoreless after the first, the Warriors offense exploded in the second. Two minutes into the frame, Blain jumped on a rebound after the setup by DeBoeck and Hishon.
A minute later Brenzil slid it back to Kibedi at the blueline and he rifled a shot for a 2-0 lead.
Then with less than two minutes remaining in the second, Chambers danced through the defenders and went top shelf blocker side.
Early in the third, Cassone made it 4-0 after Blain won the draw in their zone and it squirted over to Cassone. Minutes later Kibedi carried the puck up ice and slid it across to Hishon out front. He snapped it home for a 5-0 advantage. Late in the third DeBoeck finished off a beautiful passing play with Hishon and Blain. Bridges rounded out the scoring after the setup by Cassone.
Reed Bowles wasn't busy but made the saves needed to give the Warriors a 7-0 victory.
Next up were the North London Nationals January 14. Brosens got the start and was busy immediately. Brenzil opened the scoring midway through the first on a beautiful wraparound and Cameron Parsons picked up the assist.
The Nationals tied it up after the defenders got tangled up leading to a breakaway. Two minutes later Hishon made it 2-1 after the setup by Blain and Owen Hunt. Brosens was strong as the Nationals held an 8-4 shot advantage after two periods.
The teams battled hard in the third unfortunately the Nationals came out on top 4-3. DeBoeck scored in the third with Hishon and Brenzil picking up the assists.
The Stittsville Rams were the opposition in the semifinals and the Warriors were fired up. Brenzil slid a nifty backhander in to open the scoring. He added a 'Bobby Orr' style goal flying through the air after a setup by Cassone and Taten Mikel . Two minutes later Holloway jumped on a Brenzil rebound to make it 3-0 after two periods. Chambers rounded out the scoring in the third and Brenzil completed a four point game with an assist. Bridges also picked up an assist.
Bowles earned the shutout as the Warriors rolled to a 4-0 victory.
Congratulations boys on an impressive weekend!