Castle Peak Retirement Residence Bears Perfect In Pittsburgh, News, Castle Peak Retirement Residence Atom Rep, U11 (2010-2011), 2018-2019 (South Muskoka Minor Hockey Association)

This Team is part of the 2018-2019 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Nov 26, 2018 | Jerri Knight | 934 views
Castle Peak Retirement Residence Bears Perfect In Pittsburgh
The Atom Rep Bears coaching staff put a plan in motion before the season started with the hopes of giving their team a learning experience and memory they would never forget.  This included teaching the players how important it is to not only play like a team, but to act like one every step of the way. The big test would be an American Thanksgiving Day tournament 8 hours away in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on the American holiday weekend.

  With the help of numerous sponsors and donors from across Muskoka, the team was able to secure a coach bus from Hammonds Transportation to get them to their destination.  This allowed the players time to chill out, watch movies, play games and do what all team bus rides do, become tighter as a team.

  The first game of the weekend saw the Bears take on the Blaze from Georgina.  The team came out strong and controlled the play for the majority of the first period before a lucky shot from the Blaze found the back of the net putting the Bears down 1-0.  The strong play continued into the second frame and paid off when defenseman Willow D snuck in from the point and blew a blazing wrist shot past the Blaze goalie tying the game.  The team continued to press but a bad bounce allowed the Blaze to regain the lead 4 minutes later.  With lots of time left the team did not panic with the bad luck they were having and speedy centerman Tyson J turned on his jets to get free and tie the game up before the period ended. Entering the third period tied the team knew how important it would be to start off with a win.  Alex S took a feed from Jack M with 5 minutes left in the game and made no mistake burying the biscuit. Goalie Koby K came up huge with a few crucial saves late in the game and the final score ended 3-2 for the Bears.

  The players loaded back onto the bus for a team meal at TGIF's before facing their second opponent, the Pelham Panthers that afternoon.   Who knew chicken fingers were fuel?  The kids came out flying and just 15 seconds in, Griffin I got the puck to Alex S, who feathered a perfect pass to Jack M who unloaded a shot the Pelham goalie couldn't handle.  Three minutes later, Jake R broke away from everyone and sniped a beauty to put the Bears up 2-0.  The quick lead for the Bears sparked Pelham who turned up their efforts and caused the Bears to take numerous penalties.  Those infractions would haunt the team as early in the third period Pelham tied the score 2-2.  It looked like the Bears may fall behind when Pelham found themselves on a breakaway but goaltender Declan I rose to the challenge stoning the player with a big glove save.  Luck turned its head the Bears way finally when Alex S picked up his second goal of the day and the Team regained the lead with just under 6 minutes left.  Big, bruising winger Jackson M iced the game for his squad scoring the team's fourth goal with just 42 seconds left.  Bears win game 2, 4-2.

  Day 2 brought 5:30am wake up calls with a 7:00am game against the hometown Pittsburgh Hornets.  The early start had the players on their toes ready to go.  Unfortunately Pittsburgh's goalie had different ideas stoning the team through the first period.  However the players didn't give up and the flood gates opened in the second when Jake R netted his first of 2 in the game.  Thirty seconds later Liam H let go a blast from the point and the Bears were off to the races up 2-0.  Willow D would not be denied as she got her second of the tournament while her D partner Owen S fed Tyson J a perfect pass for him to also notch his second too.  The passion of Griffin I finally paid off with the tall winger notching his first of two to end the period with the Bears holding a commanding 5-0 lead.  The goals didn't stop in the third as workhorse Carter I picked up assists on the next 2 goals by Jake R and Owen H. The period would end with the Bears finding the net 3 more times while goalie Koby K stood tall earning the shut out. The final score would be 10-0 earning the team a spot in the final the next day.

  Championship Sunday would see a rematch with their toughest opponent, Pelham.  The Bears knew they would have to find another level to play too and they did.  The smallest players played like the biggest with Chase G, Bennett C and Wyatt D providing hustle and heart each time they hit the ice leading the way for their teammates.  Period one saw the Bears up 3-0 on goals by Tyson J, Griffin I and Jackson M.  Period two saw the Pelham get on the board but Owen H and Alex S had an answer for that and the team took a 5-1 lead into the third.  Jackson M iced it with a minute left while shorthanded and saw the Bears take the Thanksgiving Classic with a perfect record and 6-1 score. 

  A team celebration meal was requested by the players at the local IHOP and the hope of a syrup coma for the long trip home. The trip and goals set by the staff prior to it could not have worked out any better.  These players proved that when you work hard and are willing to sacrifice individual wants for the collective good of the team, great things can happen. Travelling back across the border was easier than expected.  Especially with a busload of GOLD.

Written by Bryce Davidson
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