The final games of the International Silver Stick tournament in Forest on Jan. 13 featured teams from Minto in both the Midget and Pee Wee ‘C’ divisions.
Finals at both levels were decided in overtime, with the Midget Mad Dogs claiming the championship and the Pee Wees coming home runners-up.
Game 1 of round robin play for the Midgets was early on Jan. 11 against the Glencoe-Bothwell Southwest entry. Minto got off to a quick start and took the game 7-1. The second game against Cincinnati, Ohio was a back and forth contest, but when the final buzzer went Minto won 5-3.
Minto got off to a shaky start against Wingham on Jan. 12, giving up an early goal, and Wingham never looked back. The relentless Wingham forecheck was too much for Minto to handle, resulting in a 5-2 loss for the Mad Dogs. The loss dropped Minto into second place, with a berth in the semi-finals.
In the next game Cayuga let Minto get off to a great start by grabbing a two-goal lead in the first. Cayuga fought back in the second and third, but with 30 seconds left Minto scored into an empty net to take the game 4-2 to earn a spot in the final.
In the final Minto faced Wingham once again. The game began as a tight-checking affair, with neither team willing to give an inch. Late in the first, Wingham received a penalty and the Mad Dogs were able to capitalize on the opportunity, taking a 1-0 lead.
Minto scored 40 seconds into the second to go ahead 2-0.
Entering the third, Wingham knew that their backs were against the wall. They came out flying, scoring one minute into the period and then tying the game 14 seconds later. The third period ended with the score knotted up and just like in the Regional Silver Stick final featuring these same two teams, overtime was required.
Overtime was back-and-forth hockey like the rest of the game. Minto won that battle with a broken play down in Wingham’s end as Brad Binkle walked out of the corner and put the puck by the Wingham goalie to win the tournament.
“For most of these boys it was the second kick at the can for this tournament, which is really special as most players don’t even get a chance to play in a tournament like this. So being a finalist last year and champion this year is quite an accomplishment,” said coach Lee McMullen.
Pee Wee Mad Dogs
The first game of the tournament matched the Minto Pee Wee Mad Dogs against the Red Bank (NJ) Generals. The team played a fast-paced, passing game. Their determination and team effort gave them a 7-0 win over the Generals.
Minto came out flying agaiinst the Sylvania (Ohio) Maple Leafs. By the end of the game they scored an 11-1 win.
The Delhi Rockets gave Minto a run for their money in their third game. In the third period the Mad Dogs dug deep and scored a couple of unanswered goals to win 5-2.
The semi-final game matched Minto with the Red Bank (NJ) Generals once again The boys played a strong, fast, tactical game to give them a 4-1 victory and a trip to the final.
In the final against Centre Hastings, Minto managed to light up the scoreboard first. It remained a 1-0 game until the Grizzlies scored a power play goal midway through the third.
With no further scoring, the game went into overtime.
With less than two minutes remaining in the first overtime period, during a scramble in front of the Minto net, the Grizzlies managed to flip one in for the win.
Minto players Brett Zabel, Logan Wanless and Brodie Hoffele were named to the Peewee All Star team.
