Apr 07, 2022 | Lindsey Richie | 623 views
One Unforgettable Season
Our Monsens Sporting Goods Ennismore U11B group had a year to remember. Our 2011-2012 age group were the first to experience the new U9 pathway starting with half ice turning into full ice. Their initial 2019-2021 season was cut short due to Covid. Covid also took away the opportunity for our 2011 group to experience the Atom Liftlock Tournament. With many set backs over the last couple years, these kids were on a mission to make it a great year and wow did they not disappoint!!
Our first tournament of the year was the International Silver Stick in Wasaga Beach. Our Eagles game into this tournament undefeated. Our first game was vs the Elmvale Coyotes who gave us our first loss of the season. This was the first time the Ennismore dressing room had ever been quiet after a game. Not wanting to feel that again the team made their way to the finals where they again met the Elmvale Coyotes. The game ping-ponged in scoring with the Eagles taking the lead and winning the International Silver Stick.
Unfortunately, due to Covid, the Final Silver Stick tournament in Forest was cancelled. Undeterred, the coaching staff of the U18 and U11 groups came together to host the International Tournament of Champions over March break. Inviting all winning U11 teams and U18 teams to compete in a great weekend of hockey. Our boys got to experience their first pin exchange with the Walkerton Capitals, Cumberland Jr. Grads and the Lambeth Lancers as well as having a dinner with their new friends the Lambeth Lancers. The tournament did not go our way for our boys who were 1-5 with their only win against the Lambeth Lancers who were our tournament champions.
Our regular season was great ending 16-3-1. Our boys run for a birth into the OMHA Championship tournament was the most exciting hockey to watch all season. Our Eagles faced the Lindsay Muskies who where our toughest league competition. The series went to game 6, for a winner take all. All our boys played their hearts out this game to win 3-2.
On April 1 our boys entered the Peggy Hill arena in Barrie for their first game of the OMHA championship. The first game was a heartbreak loss to the Tillsonburg Tornadoes 4-2. The second game of the day was vs. Orangeville Flyers where our boys got their groove back and took home a 11-2 victory with multiple players contributing to the win. In our final game, we saw the now infamous Elmvale Coyotes. Needing a tie or a win, our boys played one of the best games they have played all season. Elmvale was out for redemption and would not make this easy on us! Our goalie, Weston Dalliday, all but stood on his head for a 4-4 tie which allowed our boys to reach their first goal of the tournament - the quaterfinals.
In the quaterfinals, our boys faced off against the Aylmer Flames. With our Ennismore crowd already being loud and proud and heard throughout the arena, we happily welcomed our friends the Walkterton Capitals who cheered on our boys. Unfortunately the outcome of the game was not one we wished for and we lost 5-3.
While the loss of the quaterfinals was heartbreaking, our team should be proud of how much they have accomplished at such a young age in hockey. Many minor hockey players do not have a banner hanging in their arena or have ever experienced a run for the Red Hat at the OMHA championships.
We would like to thank our coaches for the countless hours put in to help our kids. A shoutout to our young coaches Jayden Merriam and Ian Thomas who were the true heart and soul of this team and will be deeply missed by our players and parents as they go off to further their education.
Thank you to our Sponsor Monsens Sporting Goods.
Thank you to all the parents and families for their support in helping these boys achieve such greatness. The team does not end with coaches and players - its all of us.
On behalf of one proud team manager and mom - I am proud of our boys. Proud of not only how they conducted themselves on the ice but off. We are very proud of you. GO EAGLES GO!