Dec 02, 2015 | jlalonde | 852 views
HEART OF CHAMPIONS
PARIS WOLFPACK ATOM AE CAPTURES GOLD IN WINSTON WATSON MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT
Our boys took that long drive down highway 11 participating in the Winston Watson memorial tournament in Hunstville over the weekend and they didn't disappoint. Not knowing how the team is going to react after such a long drive the boys came to play. Our first game was against Ennismore Eagles and the team didn't waste anytime peppering their goalie shot after shot finally we got the results we wanted and skated to a 5-0 victory their goalie played extremely well and the score didn't reflect on how many opportunity's we had. As a coach I could sense that we would be playing on Sunday as I was seeing flashes from our Tillsonburg tournament where the boys won their first championship of the season we just needed to stick to our game plan as these boys had set a goal at the starting of the season to win this tournament. Not playing our next game until 4:40 the next day this gave the team and parents some bonding time and what fun had by all. This is exactly why I enjoy coaching these young players as the sounds of mini sticks through the hallway and the laughter amongst team mates echo through the hotel. The way the parents mingle with each other laughing telling jokes and throwing the odd jab (coach Drew). We had enough food and drink to feed a small army as parents either brought or bought something making this a smoregesboard to remember and we can't forget the ITALIAN STALION CAN'T SET THE ALARM CLOCK TONY CORTINA and his better half Joanne for finding the best pizza in town. After a lengthy night of entertainment it was time for game 2 as Paris was up against a team from Toronto Don Mills Mustangs not knowing what to expect from such a big centre our team was focused on what needed to be done. Don mills struck early in the game and was up 1-0 when Paris had enough and scored 5 unanswered goals to win 5-1 the boys didn't have much time to reflect on the win as we played 1 hour later against Pelham Panthers. The boys knew that if victorious this game we would finish first in our pool and play in the semis on Sunday. Pelham didn't waste any time as they looked like a team ready to pounce at every opportunity in which they did and Paris found themselves down early and often but the Wolfpack would not give up and scored goal after goal finding a way to get past Pelhams defence this resulted in a convincing 8-3 Paris win setting up the best 2 records in the semi finals Orillia vs Paris Sunday morning. The semi finals didn't disappoint as both teams looked hungry at the starting once the puck dropped it was Orillia that seemed to want it more as they kept buzzing and forcing our players on their heels with their aggressive play if it wasn't for our great goaltending Paris would have been out of this one early. Both teams exchanged goal after goal which set up an exciting 3rd period. Paris would finally hold down the fort with some excellent defence and backchecking and came out victorious 5-4 and off to the finals against Pelham Panthers. The boys didn't want to get cocky and ahead of themselves as we already beat this team 8-3 earlier on they knew exactly what needed to be done and the task at hand . It was an exciting final that didn't disappoint and it was anyone's game until the 3rd when Paris pulled away from the pack and won their second tournament going undefeated the whole way. As a coach seeing these players develop and raising their level of compete couldn't make me any more prouder we where the talk of the town that weekend as I received compliment after compliment on our team/players coaching staff and parents Thank you everyone for being a part of this weekend and a part of my team I will truly hold this close as it was a memorable one thank you