The Millwood Logistics Novice A Orillia Terriers left it all on the ice at the Sudbury 80’s Hockey Tournament last weekend and they came home with some great memories and a silver medal around their necks.
The Terriers came out strong in their opening game, thrashing a younger Nickel City Select 7’s team by a score of 11-0. Orillia controlled the game at both ends of the ice, and Carter Oakley shut the door on the few scoring opportunities that came his way to earn his third shutout of the season.
The score sheet was a crowded one for the Terriers: Aiden MacDonald (2G, 2A), Will Timpano (4A), Tyler Colebrook (2G, 1A), Colsen Maracle (2G, 1A), Carter Balkwill (2G, 1A), Ridley Tucker (1G, 2A), Aiden Shilling (2G), Jesse Mole (1G), Devante Choptiany (1A), Kaden Noble (1A) and Cameron Carruthers (1A). Player of the Game honours went to Timpano.
In their second Friday game, Orillia simply out-worked the Hearst Lumber Kings and they were rewarded with a 5-2 win. Aiden MacDonald led the Terriers’ offense with a hat-trick, and Ridley Tucker netted the other two. Single assists went to Cooper Long, Maracle Colebrook, Balkwill and Timpano. Terriers’ blueliners Chase Beiers, Long, Choptiany and Timpano had a strong game, and Choptiany was recognized as Player of the Game.
The Terriers faced their biggest test of the round-robin on Saturday morning, when they faced a Nickel City Jr. Sons Novice AA squad. Nickel City jumped out to an early lead on a goal in the first minute of play, but the Terriers replied on a goal by Carter Balkwill just two minutes later. Nickel City pressed hard for the balance of the first period and managed to get another marker past Oakley to take a 2-1 lead into the second.
Orillia came out hard in the second period and took an early 3-2 lead on goals by Tucker and MacDonald. Unfortunately for the Terriers, the balance of the game saw them consistently short-handed, as the officials marched them to the penalty box 8 times in the last period and a half. Nickel City took advantage with a power play marker to tie the game at 3 before the end of the second, but Orillia pulled together defensively and Carter Oakley made some great saves throughout the third frame to keep the Jr. Sons off the board the rest of the way to earn the tie. Assists for the Terriers went to Noble, Beiers and Carruthers. Carter Balkwill was rewarded with Player of the Game honours for his versatility and solid play at both ends of the ice.
Sunday’s schedule wasn’t a kind one for Orillia, who had to face the Sudbury Bulldogs Novice AA team at 8:00 am to earn a spot in the championship final later that day. It was a physical game that kept the officials busy throughout the contest, but the Terriers played a strong all-round game to earn a deserving 4-2 victory. Colsen Maracle had his best game of the tourney and was in on all four Terriers goals with one goal and three assists. Colebrook and MacDonald each had a goal and an assist, and Tucker had the remaining goal for Orillia. Balkwill, Shilling and Carruthers each had assists to help out the cause. MacDonald earned the Player of the Game as the best Terrier on the ice.
The Terriers had little time to enjoy their 3-0-1 tournament record however, as they were left to face the well-rested Nickel City Jr. Sons Novice AA team in the Championship Final only three hours later. Orillia had earned home-ice advantage and came ready to play, but it was evident after the first five minutes of play that their gas tanks were running on empty. The Jr. Sons scored three quick goals at the mid-point of the first period and they never looked back, adding three power-play goals en route to a 7-1 victory over the weary Terriers.
Carter Oakley faced a ton of rubber in the Orillia net, but fought hard to the final buzzer to limit the Jr. Sons to only two goals in the second half of the game, both of which came on the power play. Oakley also assisted on the lone Terriers goal of the contest when Cam Carruthers picked up a rebound and made a great feed to a streaking Aiden MacDonald. MacDonald made no mistake as he broke in alone on the Jr. Sons netminder, getting Orillia on the score sheet with less than one minute to play in the opening period.
Ridley Tucker’s relentless fore-checking and back-checking earned him Player of the Game honours in the final game for the Terriers.
Orillia’s coaches were quick to praise the efforts of their team. “The boys played their hearts out this weekend”, said Head Coach Andy Long. He added, “Orillia can be very proud of the way they handled themselves, especially against some tough AA teams.”
The Millwood Logistics Novice A Terriers’ coaches and players also wanted to thank the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL for their hospitality. The Terriers were provided with a tour the Wolves’ dressing room and met a couple of their players before watching the Wolves take on the Mississauga Steelheads later that night.
Photo:
The Millwood Logistics Novice A Orillia Terriers, from left to right with their pink sticks in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Aiden Shilling, Will Timpano, Colsen Maracle, Ridley Tucker, Aiden MacDonald, Cooper Long, Cameron Carruthers, Carter Oakley (G), Carter Balkwill, Devante Choptiany, Jesse Mole, Tyler Colebrook, Chase Beiers and Kaden Noble.