The Novice Tri-County Mooretown competed in Niagara on the Lake Minor Hockey Associations’ (NOTL)  March Break Classic Tournament in Virgil, Ontario.

In game one the Storm went up against the Clarington Thunder.  The Storm players seemed to be out of sorts throughout the game scrambling for the puck and not playing their positions properly. Regardless of their sloppy play, the firepower of the Storm would prevail in the end winning the game 5-3 and awarding player of the game to #20 Lleyton Ticknor.

A pre-supper Game Two went down against the Niagara on the Lake Team 3. The boys were improving their play in the match that turned into a battle of the goalies. Mooretown was facing a hot opponent goalie but #1 Ryerson Petrie was scorching as the team went on to win 4-2 and Petrie taking player of the game honours.

Game Three was against the NOTL Team 1. Mooretown was guaranteed a spot in the semi-finals but this tilt would determine where they would rank amongst the four teams that moved on. The Storm would be solid and take the game 3-1 with # 10 Colby Stewart garnering player of the game for his strong stay at home defenseman work that helped seal the deal.

Mooretown would finish their preliminary games 3-0 ranked first matching them up once again versus the fourth seeded team of Clarington at 150 in the semi-finals. Soon after the game was underway, Clarington came out hard and scored three goals to put the Storm in a hole that they would have to dig deep to find their way out. With lots of hockey left to play, the team would not give up. The team came alive with Reese Hardick cutting the lead to 3-1 and the defense stepping up shutting the door. Jaxon Priddle would then take charge tying the game with two quick goals putting it back within reach. The game went to a shootout and Priddle would then go on to score the winner to earn the team a come from behind 4-3 victory sending the Novice Storm to the tournament finals.

Hometeam favourite NOTL 2 would be the opponent the boys faced in the final. With the same 4-0 tourney track record as the Storm. It would only take the team a few minutes before they released their barrage like they had done throughout most of the season. NOTL would be set back on their skates as our team clicked shift after shift. All the Mooretown players were contributing. With all lines firing and a superstrong rear flank, the team was netting the goals, killing off PKs, and building up the blue line wall while our goaltender kept the goose-egg up for the opponent. Mooretown controlled the game from start to finish saving their best hockey for last bringing home the tournament championship with a stellar 7-1 win.

Ryerson Petrie won the Mooretown Storm MVP for the tournament.

submitted photo