The Atom AE Team traveled to Tillsonburg to take part in their first tournament of the season on Nov.7-8. The first game the team would face Thorold a BB center. The game would be back and forth with the lucky bounces going to Thorold and eventually taking the win 3-2. Goals were scored by Andy Clark and Mitchell Consitt with assists going to Kody Ritchie and Kyle Larkin. The second game of the day the team would face Wellington another BB center and a much better team than Thorold. Wellington would score early in the first and two more times in the second, unanswered by the Sailors. The Sailors fought hard throughout the game and kept Wellington off the board in the third but taking another loss 3-0. Then on Nov. 8th the Team would face South Huron for a nail biting game at both ends of the rink but the Sailors again would come up short losing 3 – 2. Goals for Goderich were scored by Andy Clark. It was a great learning experience for the team as some players had never played tournament hockey.
On Tuesday, Nov.11th the team traveled to Clifford for their first meeting of the season. With the team struggling with their offensive play on the weekend they would come out scoring just 1:30 into the first and go on to score another, ending the period up by 2. But Clifford came out firing in the second scoring twice to even it up. The Sailors would notch another at the end of the period to again take the lead. Clifford didn’t let up coming out to tie it up quickly, then the scoring opened up with Goderich notching three more and Clifford two more to finish up the game with the Sailors taking the win 6 – 5. Scoring for Goderich were Andy Clark (2), Thomas Pritchard, Kyle Larkin, Jared Cox and Cameron Brenner with the lone assist going to Mitchell Consitt.
Saturday, Nov.15th the team would face off against Lucknow for an exhibition game. Both teams played a tough first period to a scoreless tie. Then the Sailors lost their legs and again struggled offensively with Lucknow scoring twice in the period. Again in the third Lucknow would notch two more to take the game 4- 0.
Sunday, Nov.16th the team faced off at Memorial against Elma Logan for their first meeting of the season. The Sailors came out playing like a different team, with the offensive part of the game with good positional play and hustle. Both teams would fight hard through the first with no scoring allowed at either end of the rink. The second period Goderich would get on the board first with a breakaway goal by Harrison Lobb. Elma Logan would score midway through the period and then again with 3 min. remaining. The third would be tough on the Sailors with one defensemen taking ill and then again with 5 min. remaining another would go hard into the boards requiring transfer by ambulance to Hospital for precautionary reasons. After a lengthy delay the game would resume, the Sailors never gave up and had several scoring chances to finish up the game but came up short losing 2 -1. Great game Team! An outstanding game by both our defensive unit and Goaltenders Liam Shore and Kevin DenDunnen.
The Team wishes there best to their team mates for a speedy recovery. Thanks to the Atom Rep for giving up some practice time to allow us to finish our game.