Jan 04, 2015 | gnowlan | 5651 views
Novice AAAs win for fallen teammate
During an emotional December, the Oshawa Minor Generals
Novice AAAs won the 2014 Ottawa Senators Novice Holiday Classic. 2014 marked
the tournament’s 11th year, this year featuring 92 teams competing across five
different divisions, at four different facilities in Ottawa from December 19-21.
The Novice AAAs played in the top ranked eight-team Rep Tier I division.
The tournament began just two days after losing teammate Tucker Williams
to Burkitt’s lymphoma. But Tucker was there in their hearts.
The Novice AAAs started the tournament with a couple heartbreaking results. In their first game against Rideau St. Lawrence (RSL), Payton Rickards opened the scoring half way through the 3rd period with a blast from the point. But with less than a minute left in the game RSL tied it up and that’s how it ended. Connor D’Angelo won player of the game with his five shot-on-goal performance.
In the second game against Gloucester, the boys were down 1-0 at the beginning of the 3rd. Then Cameron Wheelans, the player of the game, scored an unassisted goal with 8 minutes left to give the Minor Gens life. But for the 2nd straight game they gave up a late goal to move to 0-1-1 after two games. A playoff appearance (top four teams) looked unlikely.
To make the playoffs the boys would not only have to win their 3rd and final round robin game (v. Kanata), but win decisively in order to win the goal differential tie breaker. Facing elimination from the tournament, Joshua Frenette opened the scoring with a goal from the slot less than two minutes in and the boys never looked back as Eamon Callaghan saved all 16 shots in a 4-0 win, securing a spot in the Semifinals against Cumberland. With a goal and an assist, Caden Beaton won player of the game.
The Semifinal was unusual in that all five goals were scored in the 1st period in a 3-2 Oshawa win. Caden scored two more goals and for the 2nd consecutive game skated away with player of the game honours.
The Final featured a rematch against RSL. The game was tied at one through two periods. But Noah Simpson scored what would end up being the Championship goal with 8 minutes remaining. In goal Holden Ranta closed the door the rest of the way as the boys played frantic defense as RSL pulled their goalie in an attempt to tie it up, but to no avail. The Minor Gens won the Championship! Fittingly, Noah won player of the game.
Overall, the tournament was a true team effort. Amari Sellars shared the Minor Gens scoring lead with Caden with four points. Amari was also a team high +5 and won 63% of his faceoffs. In such close games, gaining possession off the faceoff was a significant factor in the team’s success. Payton was also +5 for the tournament. Jared Woolley and Nikolas Pawlowski led the team in blocked shots with six apiece. Dylan Leslie led the team with 12 shots on goal.
Displaying heart both on and off the ice, the players attended Tucker’s visitation upon returning to Oshawa, where they presented the Championship trophy to Tucker’s parents Shawn and Tamara, telling them that they won it for Tucker. Zackary Toll also gave Tucker his tournament gold medal.
Rest in peace #51