The Novice A Moonstone Mechanical Orillia Terriers claimed their third tournament championship of the season, winning the coveted Sudbury Regional Silver Stick on December 3, 2017. The Terriers opened the tournament with a strong showing against West Nippissing. Josh May opened the scoring midway through the first, Colten Sharland earned the assist. May added another goal in the second, while Eric Shellswell netted 2 in the 4-1 win. Assists went to Ronin Black, Hudson Inglis, Kyson Campbell, Greydon King and Craig Scott.
he Terriers proved to be too much for the Nickel City Stars. Brock Mc Kay scored a hat trick in a decisive 7-0 Terrier win. May, King, Black and Shelswell add a goal each, with Preston Tryon and Shellswell supporting their linemates with an assist a piece.
Game 3 was all Terriers, in a 12-0 romping of the host city Sudbury Select 7’s. Scott led the team offensively scoring an impressive 4 goals, Mc Kay had a hat trick, Tryon 2, Jackson Cook, Shellswell and May each had singles. Jack North, Inglis and Campbell contributed to the winning effort with 2 assists, Jackson Long, King and Sharland 1 each.
It was a Sudbury Saturday night for the Terriers. They stood atop the standings after 3 games and their undefeated record was on the line as they took the ice to face a strong Hearst team. Hearst, undefeated in the tournament, also sported an impressive undefeated record for the season. The Terriers opened the scoring when Mc Kay went coast to coast, potting a top shelf goal on the Hearst goalie. Jackson Cook added another Terrier goal in the first, assist to Shellswell. A determined and fast skating Hearst team was not going to be outdone, scoring midway through the first. Campbell and Tryon kept the Terriers on top in the second each adding a goal, with Inglis assisting on both and Black 1. Inglis netted the 5th Terrier goal of the game early in the third. But being down 5-1 did not mean Hearst was giving up, as the third period began to wind down so did the Terrier lead. Hearst began to chip away at the 4 goal lead but the mighty Terriers were not going to let the opposing team have the win. When the buzzer went, the scoreboard read 5-4 Terriers and a clinch of first place in round robin play.
An early Sunday morning semi-final match up saw the Terriers facing off once again with West Nippissing. The Terriers were determined to keep their Silver Stick life alive and represent Orillia in the championship game. Once again, Mc Kay opened the scoring and the Terriers did not look back. In a 5-0 semi final win, goals were scored by May,Shellswell, Tryon, and Inglis, with assists to Inglis, May, Sharland and Scott.
With a Sunday afternoon championship game, the arena in Sudbury was like being transported into Stompin’ Tom’s Hockey song- “Tension grows, the whistle blows, and the puck goes down the ice. The goalie jumps, and the players bump, and the fans all go insane.”
As the novice Terriers readied to take the ice, the support for them grew. The Minor Peewee Terriers lined the hall, chanting the Terrier warrior cry , cheering as they took the ice and showing a loud Hearst crowd that nothing beats louder than the pride of the blue and white. The championship game was not going to be a repeat of the previous night’s game, the Terriers were determined not to give Hearst as many scoring chances but Hearst did not want to concede another Terrier win. Hearst opened the scoring, capitalizing on a Terrier penalty. This did not bring the Terriers down, as Inglis capitalized on a Hearst penalty tying the game 1-1. Sam Weaver and Gunner Wolfe “stood on their heads” between the pipes, each making remarkable kick and glove saves, right up to the end. The two goalies lifted the energy level of the Terrier fans and their teammates with their play of the game worthy saves. Early in the second, Hearst once again took the lead. With strong defensive play the Terriers created an opening for May. May stick handled and dangled his way through the Hearst defense to tie up the game. With Hearst going back to the penalty box, the Terriers saw another chance to take the lead. With 2:13 left in the second, McKay took a pass from May and once again the Terriers were on top. The third period was a defensive one for the Terriers, as they protected a 1 goal lead. They put the pressure on Hearst’s top scorer, limited the puck touches, and dumped the puck out of their own end at every chance. When the final buzzer went, the Terriers were crowned the 2017 Sudbury Regional Silver Stick Champions.
The Novice A Moonstone Mechanical Orillia Terriers will represent Orillia Minor Hockey at the International Silver Stick in Pelham, Ontario January 11-14, 2018.-Trisha Scott