They’ll forget the wins and loses
They’ll forget the halftime talks
They’ll forget the ups and downs.
But they’ll never forget their.
TEAMMATESThe Holloway Auto Parts U10 Rep Team played in the Alliance Championships this past weekend at the Brantford Wayne Gretzky Center.
Game #1 vs. London Jr Knights White
With a 6:30P.M puck drop Friday evening, the boys stepped on the ice with a little zip in their strides. Coleton Schmidt made a tape-to-tape pass to linemate Nate Micks out front to tip in the first goal of the game. The Warriors out shot the Jr Knights by a landslide in the first, but the goaltender held his own keeping the white in the game, ending the period 1-0. The second period the Warriors took a couple back-to-back penalties, goaltender Sawyer Verspeeten stayed steady, calm, smothered shots, whipped out the golden glove a couple times, keeping the boys in the lead. The third period on a 4 v 4 Mason Bye fed Hurley on the fly who tipped in the second goal. Two minutes left in the game the Jr Knights pulled their goaltender in attempts to gain the upper hand, the clock was winding down and the Jr. Knights offence was being controlled by the Warriors. In a last attempt to regain momentum, the Jr. Knights called a time out with 38 seconds left and twelve seconds later Schmidt intercepted a pass and made a clean shot in the open net to seal a 3-0 W for the boys.
Game #2 vs. Hamilton Raiders
The disc was dropped, and the foot races began from both sides, end to end. Hurley lit the board first, picking a puck up in the neutral zone, riffling a shot low glove side making it 1-0. Raiders were quick to answer with a puck being launched through the crowd to tie the game up at 1’s. Minutes later Raiders on a breakaway scored to take the lead 2-1. Schmidt jumped on the ice, with a quick forecheck and a wrist shot from the circle, netted a goal making it 2-2, ending the period. Second period picked off where the first period ended, both teams rushing back and forth, crashing the net and taking shots from the circles. With the Raiders tangled up in the offensive zone by the defencemen, Hurley hovered around the edges waiting for the loose puck, once it shot out, he turned the jets on zig zagging through the Raiders sniping a shot top right corner to give the boys a 3-2 lead. Midway through the period, Raiders put the pressure on and Verspeeten made an incredible save with his golden glove, to hold them off. Hurley on a line change, stepped on the ice picking a puck off the boards from Braeden Keating, taking a shot top right corner, glove side making it 4-2. Raiders through up another goal of their own, after with a lucky bounce through a screen, ending the second 4-3. Third period was an even match up, of end-to-end scrambles and rushes, forcing the Raiders to call a time out with 45.7 seconds left. With the face off in the defensive zone for the Warriors, defencemen Nick Forman lobbed a shot down from the blue line, nailing the open netter to seal a 4-3 victory.
Game #3 vs. London Jr Knights Green
The boys fell to the Jr. Knights Green with a discouraging 5-2 loss. The boys played a safe game in the third period and the Jr Knights did a good job defending any offensive opportunities the Warriors had. With a few lucky lobs and bounces the Jr Knights were able to pull away and get the W. Scoring the first goal for the Warriors was Hurley, picking a puck up at center, zooming down the left side riffling a shot that trickled behind the tender in the first period. Scoring the second goal in the second period was Andrew Hodgson, off a rebound.
Game #4 SEMI-FINALS vs. London Jr Knights White
Coming off a frustrating loss the evening before, the Warriors entered the arena, loud and energized! Again, this game was a lot of back-and-forth rushes, that both teams did a good job of controlling defensively. Hurley receiving a pass from defencemen Jaxon Hallock, sored down the left side of the ice shooting top right corner to make it 1-0. Next shift the Jr Knights White crashed the net to trickle in their first goal, making it 1-1 ending the first. The second period had many stick battles, board battles, neutral zone turnovers, multiple shots from both teams. Ending the period Hurley picked a puck up behind the net and the Jr Knights cleared a path for him down the left side, giving him space to make another clean shot top right corner to make 2-1. To complete the hattrick, defencemen Hallock clearing a puck up to Hurley to send him on a rush down the center, giving him space to net another goal for the Warriors, making it 3-1. With the game coming to an end, the Jr Knights White tried to put the pressure on but were controlled by the aggressive Warriors, that were hard on every puck, stick lifting, using their bodies on the boards, forechecking and backchecking. A time out was called with 1:25 left in the game and the goalie was pulled creating a 6 v 5. The red, white, and blue stood their ground and took the W with Schmidt netting another open netter with 3.6 seconds left in the game, ending with a 4-1 victory, sending the boys to the Alliance Championship Game!
Game #5 FINALS vs. London Jr Knights Green
This is the moment the boys have been waiting for all season, to compete in the Alliance Championship game! The dressing room was pumping with music, all players staying calm, cool, focused, and ready to hit the ice. Team Mascot Emmett Bye kept the boys in high spirits before stepping on the ice, with his fist pumps, dance moves and smiling face! The first period had a lot of bouncing pucks, chippy passes, maybe some jitters from both teams, creating many 200’ rushes. The second period both teams settled down a bit and started working amongst their lines, trying to create offensive movement. Centreman Joseph Moss with a back check, turned over a puck at the blue line, headed down the left side, with the Jr Knights on his heels, tangling up his arm, he still managed to hit his target, netting the first goal of the game!!! With the game moving quick, the Jr Knights Green answered back seconds later ending the period 1-1. The third period continued with end-to-end action until 5:25 left, Warriors went on a PP and linemates during the PP Moss and Nate Micks, executed a tic-tac-toe play, barring another goal for the Warriors. The energy was high as the clocking was winding down, both teams were battling hard for every puck, defensively each team did their part in slowing down offence. With 1:47 left in the game, the Jr Knights Green locked in their second goal, sending the game into OT. Ten minutes were added to the clock, OT was on and both sides of the ice were working hard, moving lines, working the boards, limiting rushes, clearing pucks, tangling up sticks, both goaltenders stayed consistent, alert, limiting rebounds, keeping their team in the game. With 1:10 left on the clock, Jr Knights were able to net the game winning goal. Although it wasn’t the outcome the boys wanted, they worked hard and fought till the bitter end.
A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS on a fantastic season by all 17 players!!!
With the season at an end, the parents and coaches would like to Congratulate the U10 boys on another well fought season, with goals being achieved and championships being conquered, it was a season of Celebration! It may not have ended how they had hoped but they have much to be proud of, with a record of 31-9-1, these boys have every reason to hold their heads high 😊 and be proud of what has been accomplished.
#1 – Sawyer Verspeeten
#2 – Nick Forman
#3 – Jaxon Hallock
#4 – Joey Bitzer
#5 – Marcus Atkinson
#6 – Joseph Moss
#7 – Tyler Peck
#8 – Nash Rheil
#9 – Coleton Schmidt
#10 – Nate Micks
#11 – Owen Hurley
#12 – Malcolm Austin – Olsen
#14 – Andrew Hodgson
#16 – Braeden Keating
#17 – Mason Bye
#18 – Lincoln Rae
#30 – Nash Zacher
* The 2021-2022 U10 Rep Team would like to give a HUGE THANKYOU to Head Coach – Nick Keating for committing himself for the past three years to 2012 Warrior Team. He stepped into this role in 2019, I’m sure he had no idea what he was getting into, with the hockey format changing to half ice and Covid being tossed into the mix, but he took the challenge on and lead the boys to three successful seasons. Thankyou for your commitment, dedication & time put into our boys!! *
** Another, CONGRATULATIONS goes to Coach Matt Peck, who has accepted the HEAD COACH position for the U11- Rep Team for the 2022-2023 Team!! **
LET’S GO W A R R I O R S !!!!