The U9 'A' Millwood Logistics Orillia Terriers brought home silver medals from the recent Walt McKechnie U9 Highland Storm Tournament in Dysart et al.
The team played well over the two-day tournament and should be very proud of their silver medal, said coach Daryl Bat.
Orillia got off to a slow start in the tourney, dropping a 5-3 decision to the Millbrook Stars in the opening contest.
Backstopped by their goalie, Kinglsey Barker, the team managed to shake off the rust from their slow first period and get on the scoreboard with a goal by forward Levon Hayes, assisted by Colton Shepherd, in the second period. Jaxson Donoghue, assisted by Brady Bell, would add a second goal in the third period, and Tyson Hawke, assisted by Donoghue and Keldon Campbell, would add one more.
The Terriers, knowing they let that one get away from them, came back strong in the second game of the tournament. Donoghue led the way with a natural hat trick with assists to Preston Grimoldby and Ben Gasc. Hayes, assisted by Grimoldby, scored in the third, and Jacob Bat would add one more for insurance to take a convincing 5-2 win over the Kawartha Coyotes.
The defensive core of Campbell, Kevin Boulianne, Brock Caven, Ben MacCormac, Grimoldby and Gasc proved to be a formidable force on the blue line, limiting the shots, taking away breakaways, keeping the puck in the offensive zone, and providing crisp passes, thus allowing the forward lines to work their magic.
The Orillia Terriers were given a bye to the finale of the 'silver side' of the tourney.
In a nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat final, the Terriers would prevail with a 4-3 overtime win against the Stratford Warriors. Led by stellar goaltending from Barker, and a defensive backstop by the aforementioned defensive core, forwards, Donoghue, Bat, Max Mooney, Bell, Cameron Shellswell, Hawke, Colton Shepherd, Hayes and Almedia came out strong and didn't back down against the equally matched Stratford Warriors.
Stratford would open the scoring in the final game, but Campbell, with 17 seconds left in the first period, would tie it up with a clapper from the point.
Stratford battled back in the second to take the lead back but Almedia would answer with a beauty of a backhand to tie things up again. Donoghue, assisted by Hawke and MacCormack, would score in the third to give the Terriers the go-ahead 3-2 lead.
However, despite a strong defensive game by the Terriers, Stratford would eventually score at the end of the third to send the game to overtime.
The Terriers, wanting to win the silver side, knew they had to take the game into their hands and end it quickly. Grimoldby, Shepherd, and Hayes lined up to start the 3-on-3 overtime and with only eight seconds off the clock in overtime, Hayes would seal the deal with the game winner to give the U9 'A' Millwood Logistics Orillia Terriers the silver medal.
Coach Daryl Bat, assistant coaches Andrew Hawke and Matt Caven, and trainer Chad Mooney, couldn't be happier for the team for their hard work and perseverance. The team would like to also thank Lucas Surgernor who, unfortunately, couldn't play in the tournament, for coming out and supporting the team in their final game.
A big thank you to the coaches, team manager Allison Campbell, players, and family members for making Orillia proud.
