Apr 04, 2016 | jlalonde | 880 views
SOUTHERN COUNTIES CHAMPS!!!
PARIS ATOM AE WIN SOUTHERN COUNTIES CHAMPIONSHIP!!!
The Paris Atom AE team put an exclamation mark on their season by winning the Southern Counties championship over the weekend in Ayr. This was a goal set at the starting of the season by all these boys in which they set out to achieve by all their heart, hard work and dedication throughout the year. The boys knew this wasn't going to be no easy task but fitting seeing how it has come down to the 2 best teams all season Caledonia and Paris. These 2 teams have played each other tough all season bringing out the best in all the players with little room for error. At the start of the season it was Caledonia who controlled most of the play beating us in exhibition games and league play but the coaching staff and players knew that with a little hard work and planning that the second half of the season would see different results and that's exactly what these boys did not only beating Caledonia in league play but eliminating them from OMHA PLAYDOWNS and winning both our games against them in round robin in the playoffs. The championship game was no different as you could tell that both teams were ready during warm ups and the atmosphere was epic. The first period saw both teams going back and forth trying to break through the other teams defence with no results ending in a deadlock 0-0 after the first. Our boys knew we needed to play that first to the puck mentality and get more shots if we were going to be successful. It was early in the second when Paris was awarded a powerplay that Emerson Noseworthy got us started when he buried a rebound past caledonias keeper putting paris up 1-0 assist going to Alex Bowlby. The game started to open up a little bit but our goaltender Lucas Radke who has been the Heart back there all season always and nonechalantly came up huge for us. Caledonia finally got on the board late in the first tying the game 1-1 and setting up and exciting 3rd period. Paris found themselves down 2-1 with 9 minutes left in the 3rd but as always the team stayed focused and calm and were rewarded when Owen Lalonde took a nice feed from Alex Bowlby and rifled it in the top corner tying it 2-2. There was some nervous times on both benches as both teams knew that a goal scored this late and the way the goalies were playing could be game over. Both teams decided that overtime would be a fitting way to end this as it was well deserved. The first overtime could have ended for both teams several times as the offence started to pour it on but again were met by great goaltending on both ends. In the second overtime Paris found themselves in penalty trouble and had to kill off 4 consecutive penalty kills not only did this put lots of pressure on our players but was taking a toll physically as well. During a Paris timeout we told the boys how proud we were of each and everyone of them and depending the outcome they have nothing to be ashamed about. The hockey gods were with us that day because at 4:56 of the 2nd overtime is when our captain Mr Bobby Orr Owen Lalonde went end to end and rifled a bar down goal past the keeper to send our team, coaches and parents into a frenzy and a memory that will last forever. These boys have been doing this all season long winning both their tournaments and making memories that will last me a lifetime the joy and fun I had when surrounded whith these boys will be hard to let go as the season comes to an end. I would personally like to thank the parents as well for always supporting the coaching staff and players we ask for and inch and you always gave us a mile. What a season to remember on and off the ice this truly will be remembered . PROUD OF YOU BOYS WAY TO GO PARIS WOLFPACK ATOM AE!!!!