“Always remember that those who are closest to you will be affected by your dreams. Somewhere along the way, they will undoubtedly have to sacrifice something in order to help you realize your goals.” ― Bobby OrrWhat a weekend in Parry Sound Ontario. Searles Motor Products Novice Rep team ventured up north for the first tournament action of the year for the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame Classic.
Tournament started off for the Express Saturday morning against the Midland Centennials. To say that we came off the bench flat would be a under statement. To save us the heart ache of the explanation of what happened we will leave it with a game that we would like to forget and had us down 0-1 in our bracket and worried that we may be eliminated before our second game due to some cross over game details.
Our little Express team would not have the first game dictate their future in the tournament. The second game was against the Huntsville Otters. The Otters had heard about the first game of the day and thought they would have their way with us. That was not to be the way, having a little pregame scouting report we learned that Huntsville would try and ride two of their players to the win. That was not the way our "TEAM" is built from line to line it did not matter to us who was on the ice we are a team and we defend and attack from all lines. Keeping out of the penalty box I think was key of us in this game not giving the Otters a chance to open up any lanes for their two player attack. Our goals in the game were scored by #9 Colton Macpherson, #10 Jonah Martire, #10 Dylan Lale and #2 Will Johnson with assists going to #11 Westin Matsumoto, #16 Ryan Wolfe, #3 Josh Robles and #15 Nathan Crane.
Game 2 Final Ingersoll Express 4 - Huntsville Otters 1
Saturday afternoon pitted our Express against the Wasaga Beach Stars with there record coming into the game like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde they had lost one game 4-1 and won their next game 14-0. Being unsure what team we would see out there our Express train was running full throttle with a chance to still make the playoff round we were taking no prisoners. First period did not see a a lot of score board action having only one goal at the 1:57 mark by #15 Nathan Crane assisted by #16 Ryan Fraser. The second period was a different story and we opened the flood gates with four goals scored 3 different Express players #8 Ryan Wolfe, #7 Charlie Ashman and #14 Dylan Lale scoring two goals himself, assists went to #4 Urijah Jewkes, #10 Jonah Martire and #11 Westin Matsumoto.
The third period saw our aggressive play sending us back to the box for 2 penalties in the period. Being short handed for almost half of the period we only were able to add one more goal to our total coming from #12 Jorja Kloepher assisted by #9 Colton Macpherson and #17 Wyatt Thompson. With #20 Riley Vyse recording his first shut out of the tournament and giving our Express a shot at the semis!
Game 3 Final Ingersoll Express 6 - Wasaga Beach Stars 0
With three games in the books and our record for the day at 2 and 1 with a 6 goal plus ratio we won our division and while we had to wait until Sunday to find out who we would meet in the semis our team was riding high.
With a big mini stick game ruling the hallways of our "hotel" the kids were having a blast. Coach Shane Johnson taking on the entire team while the parents watched on. At about 8:30 Coach shutdown the mini sticks and worked on some team building before the big Sunday semi finals.
Sunday started with Midland Centennials playing the home team Parry Sound Shamrocks for the chance to play at the semi finals. Midland must had had their minds set they were going to be the ones and beat the Shamrocks 7-0. Midland now thought they were on easy street now with the road to the finals against that easy team from Ingersoll that they handled so easily on Saturday morning. The game started with Midland scoring the first and only goal of the period and they had thought it was a wrap. They then added to the total just over a minute in the second and were going to cruise this 2 goal lead to the finals. That would not be the way and less than a minute later #12 Jorja Kloepher narrowed the gap to one assisted by #9 Colton Macpherson and #17 Wyatt Thompson. With Midland shell shocked the third period was all about puck control and back and forth battles. With the clock running down and our chances of the final slipping away #14 Dylan Lale assisted by #11 Westin Matsumoto and #16 Ryan Fraser tied it up a 2 sending the Ingersoll fans through the roof.
The third would end tied at 2. With the rules for overtime 2 minute periods and 4 on 4.
Just like the third period saw a back and fourth battle. The first two minutes ticked away with a blink of a eye. Then into double overtime with Midland on the attack #1 Christopher "The Eagle" Hardeman put on a clinic for goaltending and stopped everything that Midland sent his way, again two minutes gone. Off to triple overtime! For the third time our teams battled it out and with only 36 seconds left #11 Westin Matsumoto assisted by #9 Colton Macpherson and #15 Nathan Crane ended the marathon match and sent our Ingersoll Express to the finals!
Semi final Ingersoll Express 3 Midland Centennials 2 triple OT
The finals started at 3:30 Sunday afternoon with a all southern Ontario finals with the Essex Ravens entering the final with a tournament record of 4-0 and 30 goals for and 5 against. Ingersoll Express entered with a record of 3-1 and 14 goals for and 6 goals against.
This game started like all the others and found us down 1 at the half way mark of the first and battling from behind seems to be a specialty of our team and a need for heart medication for their fans in the stands.
The first would end that way 1-0 for Essex.
Second period would see us knot the score at ones from #11 Westin Matsumoto with assists by #12 Jorja Kloepher and #9 Colton Macpherson.
End of two 1-1
The third period would see both teams fighting off power plays and both playing with everything they had left in the tanks. The tie would finally be broken at the 3:49 mark with #17 Wyatt Thompson assisted by #15 Nathan Crane and #8 Ryan Wolfe. The battle to the end would see the penalty box get the best of Essex with them receiving 3 penalties in the last 6 seconds of the match including a coaching suspension. With 6 seconds on the clock and a face-off just outside of the Express end the Essex net was empty giving them a 4 man line to try and tie up the match. The puck dropped and with the clock ticking away Essex was not able to get it out of the neutral zone and the Express won a heart stopping game with 2-1 final!
Championship Final Ingersoll Express 2- Essex Ravens 1
What a fantastic start to our tournament year. Edge of your seat excitement from the beginning to the end. For one I am glad that the after game report is all typed out because my throat is sore from all the cheering!
So proud of our Ingersoll Express and the maturity to over come the adversity they faced after the first game.
“Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months and years they spend preparing for it. The victorious performance itself is merely the demonstration of their championship character” - T.Allen Armstrong
And above all Express!
‘Cause Uptown Funk gon’ give it to you
‘Cause Uptown Funk gon’ give it to you
‘Cause Uptown Funk gon’ give it to you