Dec 11, 2011 | ldejager | 962 views
Reps Show Class in the Clinton Optimist Tourney
Although the boys came out with only one win in the tournament, they were determined to put forth their best effort each time.
The Sailors' first opponent in the Optimist tourney was the Mitchell Meteors. This game proved to be an uphill battle for the Sailors, but they came out on top in the end. Mitchell came on hard and fast, and within seconds of the opening face-off, they had scored. It took the Sailors a bit to gain their momentum, but they did so near the end of the first period, when Steve De Jager scored, assisted by Eric MacPhee and Mykal Hodges, 1-1. Kody Langlois put the Sailors ahead by one in the second period, as he scored on passes from MacPhee and De Jager, 2-1. The third period saw the Meteors tie it up quickly, but then Hodges roofed one shortly afterward, to regain the lead for the Sailors, 3-2. The pressure from the Mitchell team was constant, as they once again tied it up at the end of the third. MacPhee delivered the game winner at 7:52 of the overtime period, making it a 4-3 victory for the Sailors.
The next day the Sailors met tough opponents in the Ilderton Jets. The Jets were a strong, fast, and big team, but the Goderich team held their own by winning battles, gaining possession of the puck, and scoring goals. The Sailors opened up the scoring with a power play goal by De Jager, assisted by Hodges. Shortly afterward, Kody Langlois took a shot and De Jager was able to redirect it into the net, 2-0 Sailors. Chase Kulich added to the scoreboard on a nice pass from Nick Souch, putting his team up by 3. Just before the end of the first period, and after a wild scramble at the net, the Jets scored, 3-1. The scrappy second period was riddled with penalties for both sides, but it was the Sailors who managed to score with just 6 seconds left, as Hodges found the net on a pass from Kulich, 4-1. The Ilderton team was on fire in the third period as they scored three power play goals in succession to tie it up. The Sailors battled hard for the entire time, and also into the overtime period, but this time it was the Jets who came up with the game winner. The Sailors played an excellent game, passing, making plays, and really meshing together.
The Sailors' last game in the tournament was against the St. Mary's Rock. The Rock and the Sailors battled it out on the ice for most of the first period, but the Rock scored first with just a minute left, making it 1-0. Shortly into the second period, St. Mary's scored again, making it 2-0. The Sailors had some near misses and amazing opportunities that just didn't materialize. The Rock scored yet again, on a power play, putting them up by three goals to none. The Sailors worked hard in the third period, determined to penetrate the Rock's armour. Finally at 8:50 of the third, Hodges got the puck up to De Jager who banked it to narrow the gap, 3-1. Hodges also aided MacPhee in getting one by the Rock goalie, 3-2. Try as they might, the Sailors couldn't get that last goal to tie it up, and they ended up with a tough 3-2 loss. But coaching staff and parents alike were very proud of their boys and the effort they put into that tournament.