Your Ingersoll Tirecraft Atom LL hockey team completed league play March 2 with a 5-2 victory. Team Tirecraft just missed qualifying for the playoffs, but gained some satisfaction with their final victory by eliminating Tillsonburg from post-season play as well.
Team Tirecraft took control early pressuring Tillsonburgs defence with continual puck pursuit. David Timleck scored in the first minute of the game assisted by Brent Fewster and Camden McDougall. In the second period, Tillsonburg scored a pair, but team Tirecraft answered each time. McDougall fired a wrist shot into the net assisted by Ryan Bruschetto. Will Jones found himself in the right spot at the right time, shovelling a rebound in the net for the eventual winner. Bruschetto and Ethan Laporte were credited with assists on the goal. Collin Dench closed out the scoring in the second with a hard shot from the corner for an unassisted goal. Midway through the third, Bruschetto used his speed to fly past everyone and rip a shot to make the final score 5-2. Dench and Devon Dell drew assists on the final goal. Megan Longlade earned the win in net with several spectacular saves.
In Ingersoll March 1st , with the teams playoff hopes on the line, team Tirecraft would lose to Delhi. The team just could not generate any offence. Megan Longlade kept the team in the game with another gutsy performance between the pipes. Delhi would score late in the third bouncing a shot off a Tirecraft defender for the win.
Though the team did not make the playoffs, the season was a success on so many fronts. First year player Brandon Gordon had a great year. Symon Hucheson and Ryan Bruschetto emerged as leaders on the ice. Camden McDougall and David Timleck showed their offensive flair. Shaun Holt and Colin Van Dyk developed nicely on offence. Colin Dench, Brent Fewster and Ethan Laporte learned the defensive part of the game. Megan Longlade provided solid goaltending all season, improving each game and practice.
Special thanks to coaches Paul Jones and Lorene Bruschetto, manager Dean McDougall and trainer Dean Hucheson for their hard work and dedication in making the season a success.