WINGHAM – The Wingham U11 LL Blue team has had a busy few weeks, competing in two tournaments.
On Nov. 4, the team travelled to Goderich to play in the Ryan O’Reilly Youth Challenge Cup. The team was in a group consisting of teams from Sarnia, Zurich and Goderich.
In Game 1 against Sarnia, Wingham got off to a slow start, but found their legs in the second period, skating away with a 6-3 victory. Mason Ortlieb led the attack with four goals, with singles going to Kalyn Haggitt and Blake Haanstra. Assists went to Noah Bartman, Nolan Garniss, Bentley Morrison and Haanstra. Ortlieb was named Player of the Game.
In Game 2, Wingham found themselves against Zurich, who is very evenly matched with them, playing them in Wingham the previous week. Wingham got out to a 3-0 lead, only to let it slip away, and allow Zurich to take a 4-3 lead. Wingham tied it with 3:14 remaining in the game, and held on for a 4-4 tie. Goal scorers were Blake Horrigan, Bentley Morrison, Haggitt and Ortlieb. Assists went to Haanstra and Douglas Campbell. Player of the Game for his steady defensive efforts would go to Bartman.
Game 3 saw Wingham facing the hosts from Goderich, knowing a win was needed to move on to either the bronze or gold medal game. Wingham was hungry and scored six on the hosts to ensure a finals berth. Evan Drost kept the Goderich shooters at bay, stopping all shots he faced to record the shutout. Drost was awarded Player of the Game. Goal scorers were Ortlieb (2), Morrison (2), Haanstra and Bartman. Assists went to Logan Walker, Blake Horrigan, Haanstra and Campbell.
In the gold medal game, Wingham took on their neighbours from South Bruce, who have a very strong team. South Bruce held a 2-0 lead after the first, but Wingham cut into the lead as Ortlieb scored to make it 2-1. South Bruce made it 3-1 before Walker scored the first goal of his hockey career, cutting into the lead again. South Bruce scored again to lead 4-2 after two periods.
Wingham played hard in the third, pulling the goalie with 2:40 left, allowing Ortlieb to score his second of the contest, closing the gap to one, but that was as close as they would get, falling 4-3. Walker was named the Player of the Game.
The team showed heart and determination all weekend, and should be proud of their silver medals.
Silver Stick
On Nov. 11, the team travelled to Parkhill for the Lawrence McGee Memorial Silver Stick.
Game 1 was in Thedford against Point Edward, and it seemed like the kids had some “bus legs” following the drive down, and were down 2-0 after one period. The team woke up in the second, but trailed 3-1 heading into the third. Another Wingham goal made it a one-goal game. Wingham pulled their goalie late in an attempt to tie it, but couldn’t find the twine, losing the opener 3-2. Ortlieb scored both Wingham goals.
Wingham now found itself in a tough situation, needing two wins to have a chance to advance, and knowing they faced a very good St. Marys Rock team in Game 2. Wingham played their best overall game this season, with their defense of Garniss, Christiaan Grundlingh, Campbell and Bartman doing an excellent job of keeping the St. Marys shooters to the outside, and the wingers including Liam Degroot, Horrigan, Haggitt, Walker and Haanstra getting to the wall and getting pucks out, limiting St. Marys’ zone time. Wingham skated away with a 2-0 victory, with Ortlieb again scoring both Wingham goals.
Game 3 saw Wingham in the driver’s seat, knowing a victory over the East Elgin Eagles would assure them of first place in Group C. Drost played another great game between the pipes, and the attack paced by Morrison’s hat trick led Wingham to a 3-0 victory and a berth in the semifinal on Sunday morning.
The first snow squalls and treacherous drive of this hockey season led the team to the semifinals, where they would face the Lucan Irish. Lucan won Group B, amassing 32 goals for and only five against in three games. Wingham assumed the underdog role and came out hard, but found themselves down 2-0 after one period. Wingham would get within one, as Ortlieb scored to make it 2-1, but Lucan kept pressing, and added a third goal to make it 3-1. Wingham pulled their goalie again, and although chances were had, Lucan proved to be too much, and Wingham was eliminated from the tournament.
It has been a great start to the season, and the coaches and parents are proud of the effort from all the players throughout the two weekends. The team returns to its busy regular season schedule this week.
