The McDonald’s Novice Rep Team took part in the Dave Clarke Memorial Novice Tournament this past weekend. The first game of the tourney on Saturday Feb.2nd would be against Ingersoll which the team had easily beaten at the Durham tourney. The game started off looking good for the Sailors scoring just 25 seconds into the game with a beautiful pass from behind the net by Megan Johnston to Kyle Larkin for the one timer. The game would then go scoreless until late in the period when Ingersoll got two goals just 8 seconds apart. The second period was hard fought by both teams with the Sailors finally evening it up with 1:59 remaining in the period with a goal from Kody Ritchie. The third period would go with no scoring and the teams ending the game in a 2-2 tie.
The second game of the tourney the Sailors faced Meaford for the first time of the year which again proved to be a tough game. The Sailors came out strong with what seemed to be an endless number of shots on Meaford but their goaltender held strong weathering the storm until midway through the period when Meaford would score the first goal. The Sailors would answer back minutes later with a centering pass from Nate Helesic to Kody Ritchie notching the goal for the Sailors. The first period would end in a tie and again in the second the play was all on Goderich’s side but the Sailors couldn’t solve the solid goaltending for Meaford. Midway through the period Meaford would again strike taking the lead but the Sailors would answer back just 7 seconds later. Again the teams would be tied going into the third with no scoring by either team until the Sailors took the lead for the first time with a goal by Darren Lockie assisted by Ben Derrough. However Meaford would answer back again just 5 seconds later to tie it up once again. Finally with 4:50 remaining on the clock an end to end rush by Nicholas Peer would end with him scoring the winning goal.
On Sunday the Sailors would play a familiar face when they met Saugeen Shores. The Sailors were up for the challenge with the team getting on the board early with a goal from Nate Helesic soon followed by another from Megan Johnston assisted by Kyle Larkin. Saugeen would answer back just once with the Sailors heading into the second with the lead. The Sailors would go on to score three times in the second with two goals from Ben Derrough and another from Megan Johnston. Late in the third the Sailors would again get on the board with a perfect pass from Ben Derrough to Kody Ritchie sending him in for the goal. With 59 seconds remaining and hard work from the forwards Ashley Bakker would get another for Goderich assisted by Darren Lockie and Ben Derrough taking the game by a final score of 7 – 1.
The Team played a great game to maximize points to move into the semi-finals but would come up one point shy for a disappointing end to a great weekend. Scoring throughout the tournament for the Sailors were Kody Ritchie (3), Megan Johnston (2), Nate Helesic (2), Ben Derrough (2) with single goals going to Kyle Larkin, Nicholas Peer, Darren Lockie and Ashley Bakker. Assisting the goals were Ben Derrough (3) with singles to Nate Helesic, Megan Johnston, Kyle Larkin and Darren Lockie.