The Georgian Shores Lightning Minor Hockey U11 Representative team recently travelled to the Kitchener/Waterloo area to compete in the 58th Annual Hespeler Olympics hockey tournament over the Christmas break.
The enthusiastic team, consisting of sixteen 9 and 10 year-old children met four teams in the round robin on December 27, and 28. The team ended up undefeated against the Ayr Flames, Hespeler Shamrocks, Erin-Hillsburgh Devils, and the Guelph Jr. Gryphons.
These four wins resulted in the team earning themselves a spot in the semi-finals.
The Lightning had an early morning game on December 29, facing the Erin-Hillsburgh Devils yet again. Once again, they came to play and win, but the Lightning’s determination and team work prevailed, and they won 2-1.
At 3 p.m. on Sunday, the team faced the Waterloo Wolves in the final at the Hespeler Memorial Arena in Cambridge. The Lightning were lucky to have a few of their players with family in the area who came out to watch. Add to that a few family members who made the drive down from Meaford and the “Lets Go Lightning” cheer was that much louder.
Waterloo also came out loud and ready to play, netting the first goal of the game mid-way through the first. Going into the second period, Georgian Shores winger Mason Hill fired one in halfway through the period to tie things up for the Lightning. A scoreless third period meant the teams were headed to a three on three overtime period. With an unstoppable Bradley Kerr in net making an incredible save and the Lightning players digging hard in the corner to get the puck out, centreman Tobin Goodman picked it up at the blue line. With lightning speed to the other end, Tobin made an incredible shot in the top corner. The overtime game was won with only 41 seconds on the clock.
All the kids worked so hard in every game and most importantly had a fantastic experience and fun weekend.
Special shout-out to this year’s incredible bench staff – Head Coach Chris Parrish, Assistant Coach Luke Parrish, Assistant Coach Pat Clancy, and Trainers Sam Goodman and Britt Sheridan.
