Orillia's RJ Clarke Financial Solutions Tykes were back in action in Oshawa this weekend for the Braver Than Brave Memorial tournament.
The Kings rolled in preliminary play going undefeated, winning all three games.
The Kings opened the tournament with a 5-2 win against a tough Windsor Warlocks team. Scorers were Hayden McLaughlin with 3 goals, Henry Whelan with a goal and an assist, and Austin Martin 1 goal. Bennett Gliddon and Brody Clarke chipped in with 1 assist and 2 assists respectively.
Day 2 saw the Kings sweep through the Whitby 2 Warriors (7-2) and the Clarington 2 Green Gaels (13-1). Goal scorers vs. Whitby were Jonah Hall 2 goals, Martin with 2, McLaughlin 1, Xander Spurgeon 1 while Gavin Burnett chipped in with one. Assists in the game went to Harry Robertson 1, Clarke 1, Gliddon 1, and Kolby Thompson rounding out with 1.
The Kings found their stride early on in the game against the Green Gaels and never let off the gas. Leading the way in this game was Austin Martin 4 goals and 2 assists, McLaughlin with 2 goals and an assist, Max Balkwill 1 goal and 3 helpers, Harry Robertson and Spurgeon with 2 goals apiece, Whelan with a goal and an assist, while Gavin Burnett rounded out the scoring with a single tally. Evan McQuaid also chipped in with an assist.
Finishing first in their division, the Kings earned a bye into the semifinals where they would take on their rivals, the Uxbridge Enforcers. The Kings and Enforcers had met two times prior to the semis, splitting the games with a win and a loss each. The game was a real barn burner with the score 1-1 after the first and 4-4 after the second it would all come down to the third.
The Kings came out playing a strong defensive period, limiting the gritty Uxbridge team to just one goal while the Kings' snipers picked up three, sending them into the finals against the Northumberland Nemesis. Point getters for the game were McLaughlin with 2 goals, Martin 2 goals, Clarke and Spurgeon with a goal apiece and Henry Whelan with a goal and an assist.
Heading into the finals, the scouting report on the Northumerland Nemesis was that they had a giant goalie. This proved to be the difference as the Kings threw everything but the kitchen sink at the monster in net but managed to come up on the short end of an 8-2 loss. Scoring for the Kings were Jonah Hall and Brody Clarke while Gavin Burnett picked up an assist.
The kids showed incredible heart and determination in both tournaments and the Kings coaching staff could not be more proud of them.
Team members include: Caden Dixon, Bennett Hamilton, Jonah Hall, Bennett Gliddon, Hayden McLaughlin, Taylor Scheffel, Brody Clarke, Max Balkwill, Henry Whelan, Xander Spurgeon, Kolby Thompson, Jimmy Ray Roberts, Austin Martin, Harry Robertson, Evan McQuaid and Gavin Burnett. The Kings are coached by Chad Thompson, Adam Hamilton and Tobias Whelan.
BOYD BALKWILL TOURNAMENT
The Orillia RJ Clarke Financial Solutions Tykes took to the floor on Father’s Day weekend at the annual Boyd Balkwill Memorial tournament in Orillia.
The tykes were in tough in their opening game against an experienced Oshawa Blue Knights squad. After ending the first period tied 2-2, the local tykes ran into penalty troubles in the second period and found themselves down 9-2 after the second. With the team's no quit attitude, the boys outplayed the Blue Knights in the third period despite coming up on the losing end, 11-5. Goal scorers for the game were Hayden McLaughlin, 2 goals and 2 assists, Max Balkwill 2 goals, Austin Martin with 1 goal and one helper, and Xander Spurgeon assisting on 2.
The Kings rebounded on Day 2, taking home wins against the Newmarket Redbirds (5-4) and the Kitchener-Waterloo Braves (8-4).
Goal scorers against the Redbirds were Balkwill with 2 goals, Spurgeon 2 goals, Martin with a goal and McLaughlin chipping in with an assist.
In the game against the Braves, the kids managed to pull out a gutsy win while spending nearly half the game shorthanded due to penalty trouble. Leading the charge were McLaughlin with 6 goals and an assist, Spurgeon with a goal, and Brody Clarke with a goal. Assists went to Henry Whelan with 2 and Austin Martin with 1.
Heading into Sunday it was win and move on to the finals or lose and cross their fingers for a tie break situation to go their way. Unfortunately, the Kings came up short in their game against Milton (7-6 loss) but the tie break calculation was a different story; the Kings goals for and goals against differential beat out the Newmarket Redbirds for the chance to play for gold. Goal scorers in the game against Milton were McLaughlin with 2, Balkwill 1, Harry Robertson with 1, Clarke with 1 and Austin Martin rounding out the goal scoring with 1.
With less than two hours before the championship game the Kings knew they were in tough when they looked to avenge their opening day loss to the Oshawa Blue Knights.
The Kings came out ready to play, but were trailing 1-0 after the first. The score may have been different had it not been for the outstanding goaltending from Kings netminder Caden Dixon. Trailing 4-1 going into the third period the kids never quit attitude showed once again despite ending up on the losing end of an 8-3 final score. Scoring for the Kings were Clarke, 2 goals, and McLaughlin with 1. Helpers went to Whelan 2, and Balkwill 1.
