Tournament Round-Up, News, Bantam Local League, 2017-2018 (Almaguin Minor Hockey)

This Team is part of the 2017-2018 season, which is not set as the current season.
News Article
News Article Image
Dec 04, 2017 | Becki Carleton | 806 views
Tournament Round-Up
Friday December 1st and Saturday December 2nd saw our Bantam LL Ice Devils head north to take part in the Keith Barton Memorial Tournament in Powassan and despite three solid efforts, they were not quite able to eek out that elusive win, dropping four games including a pair of 3-2 efforts.

On Friday Almaguin took on the host Powassan Hawks and got the jump early as Markus Krajinovic fired home a Levi Spoelstra pass to put the Ice Devils up 1-0. The Hawks would battle back however, adding a late 1st period goal and a late penalty shot goal in the 2nd to take a 2-1 lead to the final period. Powassan were then able to take advantage of some Ice Devils penalty trouble, widening the lead to 3-1 early in the third as one of Almaguin’s top penalty killers, Captain Abby Flynn sat in the box. Speedy Almaguin forward Braedan Holotuk added a late goal, but the Devils could not quite complete the comeback, falling 3-2.

Almaguin’s MVP in Game #1 with a solid effort on the blue line was Defenseman Sylis Whittaker.

Game #2 saw Almaguin head to Astorville for an afternoon tilt with a very strong North Bay Miller Technologhy Trappers team and the Trappers came out flying, scorching the Devils for four goals in the first and three more in the second to take a very commanding 7-0 lead after two periods. Pride would finally take over for Almaguin however as the team seemed to collectively say “enough is enough”, and go on to play some of this season’s best hockey over the final period and into the next day’s two games.

Abby Flynn netted Almaguin’s lone goal of the game while winger Andrew Hill turned in his best performance of the young season, causing turnover after turnover with his relentless forechecking to earn MVP honours.

Looking to continue the momentum of a very good third period the day before, Almaguin headed to the “old barn” in Trout Creek on Saturday morning to tangle with the East Nipissing Vipers and as wonderful old arenas should do, the rink provided a great atmosphere for a great game of hockey! Both teams wanted the win bad and played a highly entertaining game as East Nipissing scored twice in the first while Almaguin got power play goals in the second from both Abby Flynn and Markus Krajinovic to tie up the game 2-2 heading to the third. Midway through the third, Viper forward Brandon Mills broke in alone, beating Devils net minder Daria Sollman with a beautiful deke to break the deadlock and seal the win.

For his all-out, all-round effort, centreman Braedan “Muscles” Holotuk picked up the MVP award for the Ice Devils.

The final game for Almaguin was a 3:00 pm affair, back in Trout Creek vs North Bay Kia and Almaguin continued their strong play. Despite a group effort and never-give-in attitude, Almaguin ran into some penalty trouble again and although the excellent penalty killing units did not break, killing off all six minors, Almaguin were too short for too long and eventually succumbed 4-1.

For Almaguin, penalty killing extraordinaire, Kallan Ronholm deservedly skated away with the MVP award for the Ice Devils. 

All in all, a strong finish to the tournament provides hope for an exciting return to regular season play!