It is 5:45 Sunday evening at the Watford
Community Arena and Louie’s Pizza and Pasta is on the ice to play in the 2014
Regional Silver Stick Final. Just two days earlier, Louie’s left Watford after
losing for the second time. Playing in
the tournament’s final game was merely a mathematical possibility.
In the early morning of Thursday, January 2, 2014, players and fans of Louie’s Pizza and Pasta braved January’s frigid temperature and nasty winter driving conditions to make their first trip to Watford. As they arrived, the ice surface was dormant and dark, waiting for the first game of the day between Louie’s Pizza and Pasta and the Petrolia Oilers.
While players and coaches sat in their respective dressing rooms and discussed game strategy, the arena lights came on to invite fans to come inside and take their seats. On this morning there would be no heat, not yet anyway; that would not be available after the singing of O Canada.
The Oilers wasted no time in getting their offense underway, scoring at 9:12. Louie’s #7 Tyler Arts, with offensive support from #6 Eric Savoie and #16 Tanner Moon would reply later at 4:24 of the first period. Only one goal would be scored during the second period, but it would not be scored by Louie’s. Midway through the third period, Petrolia would put a goal in Louie’s net. Louie’s was down by two goals; that is until 2:20 when #10 Aaron Lonsberry, with help from #11 Kyle Rachar and Tyler Arts, would score the last goal of the game, making the final score 3-2 for Petrolia.
It was another early start for Louie’s on Friday. While the temperature remained frigidly below zero, the storm had given way to blue skies and bright sunshine. Despite the sunshine, the rink was dark and dormant as Louie’s arrived to play the first scheduled game for the day; today they would wear white as they met the Wallaceburg Lakers, who opened the game’s scoring at 2:23 of the second period. Louie’s #5 Riley Jayne and #16 Tanner Moon would help #8 Brady Shapton respond at 5:29 of the third period. Louie’s goal celebration had barely ended as the Lakers would score less than a minute later. As the clock ticked down Louie’s #7 Tyler Arts would get some help from #6 Eric Savoie and #17 Ryan Cooper and make to tie the score at 1:35. There would be overtime. Three-on-three hockey for twenty minutes or until the first goal was scored, which happened at 18:18, administering Louie’s their second loss in as many games.
With two losses, it was time for Louie’s to return to the chalkboard; or, in this case, the tournament board. Numbers and scenarios were calculated. If x=y and c<d, then d>b, Louie’s would find themselves playing in the final, but for the mathematical equation to work Louie’s would need to win their next two games and their next game was scheduled for 9:00 the next morning against the Lambeth Lancers. It would be the third early morning start for Louie’s in as many days.
The next morning the frigid arena soon seemed warmer as three goals were scored within one minute during the first period. Louie’s #15 Tyler Goyette, with help from #16 Tanner Moon, kindled the scoring flame at 9:35 of the first period. Lambeth would create some heat of their own at 9:06. The tie would be short-lived; at 8:35, Louie’s #2 Colin Weller-Burgess with help from #10 Aaron Lonsberry and #5 Riley Jayne would fire another one into the Lambeth net. This go-ahead goal sparked the interest of #7 Tyler Arts, who would assist #6 Eric Savoie for two more red-hot goals at 7:18 and 4:06 of the first period.
During the second period, Louie’s net-minder #1 Noah Robinson would successfully extinguish Lambeth’s offensive flame; this helped stoke his own team’s offensive fire, as Louie’s would fire in two more goals before the period ended. The first goal, at 7:40, as scored by Eric Savoie, assisted by #18 Sam Tasker and a solo shot by #12 Nathan Gould at 5:20.
Louie’s red-hot style of play continued into the third period. At 7:43, Goyette would fire up for a solo shot. At 3:42, a little more fuel was added to the offensive fire as #17 Ryan Cooper, along with help from Arts and #19 Gage Langille would score Louie’s last goal for the game. Lambeth would score once in the period; the final score 8-2. Louie’s would next play at 8:15 PM against the Petrolia Oilers; it would be the fourth time this season these teams have faced-off against each other.
Louie’s Pizza and Pasta and the Petrolia Oilers played against each other for the first time last November during Strathroy’s Olympic Tournament. It was obvious then these two teams were very evenly matched. Petrolia would win during the round-robin and Louie’s would win, in overtime, during the bronze medal game. That was two months ago.
Now these teams would meet again for the second time at Silver Stick. On this night, it would Louie’s who claim the win, but not before fans from both centres were treated to an exciting game of two-way hockey and one spectacular goaltending duel featuring Louie’s #30 Ryan Calder, which forced the game into overtime. With time on the clock set at 20:00, Coach Craig Robinson sent his first line onto the ice for start the three-on-three period. The clock only got to 18:41, when Goyette, assisted by #17 Ryan Cooper and #2 Colin Weller-Burgess, would fire the puck in the net. Goyette would finish the day like he had started it hours earlier.
All required variables and functions proved the mathematical equation true. Louie’s would now play in the semi-final game, Sunday at 12:45 PM against the Mount Brydges Cougars.
Louie’s would be first on the scoreboard when #8 Brady Shapton expertly placed a solo shot into the Cougars’ net at 7:06. The Cougars would respond at 2:36. Just twenty-five seconds later, #7 Tyler Arts, with some help from #17 Ryan Cooper and #15 Tyler Goyette would score the final goal of the period. The second period would start like this when Louie’s defenseman, #11 Kyle Rachar would score a solo shot of his own at 5:54. Mount Brydges would draw within one goal at 2:15. It would be the last goal allowed by either net-minder. The 3-2 win met Louie’s would now play in the final game at 5:45.
When Louie’s Pizza and Pasta took the ice for Sunday’s final game, they did so knowing they would finish no less than 2014 Regional Silver Stick Finalists. The fact they were even on the ice tonight was no small accomplishment. They had finished the tournament eighth place out of nine of teams. There were odds and mathematical equations to be considered; none of which looked to favour them. Despite this, the players, coaches and fans watched and believed. They had proved one last equation to be true; mind over matter. To get here, Louie’s played more hockey than any other team at the 2014 Watford Silver Stick Tournament. This would be their last.
As the final buzzer sounded, Louie’s Pizza and Pasta would finish the tournament as 2014 Waterford Regional Silver Stick Bantam Finalists, bringing home a new banner to be raised inside the Ingersoll District Memorial Arena.
Due to severe winter weather and deteriorating driving conditions, the post-game press conference took place earlier this morning, via telephone, with Head Coach Craig Robinson. When asked what factors helped determine his team’s success his response well stated.
“How few penalties we took this weekend; several games we took only one, and in the Mount Brydges game we didn't take any! The boys played disciplined and together as a team all weekend and it was fantastic to see and be a part of.
The maturity of our team; Jeff and I came up with some ideas for different ways of playing over the weekend, tweaking our game slightly to adjust to the styles of teams like Mt Brydges, and the team listened carefully and went out and executed these plays without having ever practiced them. That is why we were able to knock off Mount Brydges, which was huge. Additionally, there were times we did shorten the bench to try to get some things happening, and not once did I hear anyone complain. In fact a couple of players voluntarily moved down the bench because they wanted certain team mates out on the ice because different players were playing strong at different times. That kind of maturity and commitment to the team was unbelievable for thirteen and fourteen year olds. What an amazing group of players we have to work with.”
BREAKING NEWS…
Louie’s Pizza and Pasta will be playing in the International Silver Stick Tournament, January 24 thru 26 in Forest, ON. The FINALIST finish, earns Louie’s a spot since another team canceled their attendance. At this tournament, Louie’s will face teams from Atlanta, Mississippi and New York.