Pincher Creek Voice: Atom Holiday Tournament wrap-up

Monday, December 12, 2011

Atom Holiday Tournament wrap-up

Chris Davis and Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice

Chinooks vs Lightning at
Atom Holiday Tournament
C. Davis photo

The Memorial Community Centre Arena in Pincher Creek was the site of an Atom Holiday Hockey Tournament that spread out over three days, starting on Friday evening and ending Sunday afternoon. Five teams competed in a total of ten games.

One of the most interesting things to observe at challenging events like this one is the amount of growth these young players undergo in a short time. Five teams of young athletes left the tournament significantly improved by the experience.

A big shout-out as well to all the volunteers, parents, coaches, score-keepers and referees who make all this happen.

FRIDAY

Game 1: Medicine Hat Phantoms vs Medicine Hat Lightning

Medicine Hat Lightning (in yellow) and Phantoms open the
Pincher Creek Atom Holiday Tournament
C. Davis photo

Game 1 of the Atom tournament saw the Medicine Hat Phantoms face off against the Medicine Hat Lightning on Friday evening, December 9.

The Lightning dominated the play early on, scoring twice in the first period, and once in the second before the Phantoms got onto the board. The Phantoms pulled their game together early in the second period. At that point the Phantoms staged a remarkable comeback, until late in the third when they tied it 5-5 with a rollicking goal bumped in from behind the net. The Lightning managed to score one more, with 36.2 seconds left on the clock, to take the game. The last 5 seconds of this one were as exciting as it gets, with the Phantoms coming very close to tying it again (see video).

Lightning #14 Ewen Dalzell scored three goals in the game and #4 Ryan Valk scored twice, including the first goal in the game and the tournament. Phantoms' #17 was a standout player in the game.

Final score: Lightning 6, Phantom 5.

SATURDAY

Game 2: Pincher Creek Chinooks vs Elk Valley Wild

Chinooks' #21 Josh Conley was one of the most dynamic athletes
in the whole tournament
C. Davis photo

Chinooks phenom #21 Josh Conley got to strut his stuff in this early morning encounter, scoring three times in a game that saw the penalty box seats kept warm, with the Chinooks racking up 9 penalties and the Wild 5. The Chinooks took the game easily.

Final score: Chinooks 4, Wild 2.

Game 3: Redcliff Grizzlies vs Medicine Hat Phantoms

The Medicine Hat Phantoms bounced back from their defeat against hometown rivals the Medicine Hat Lightning with a decisive victory over the Redcliff Grizzlies. Grizzlies #1 Brady DeBolce earned the team's MVP for his efforts. Phantoms MVP Ty Brooks scored three ties in the game.

Final score: Phantoms 6, Grizzlies 2.

Game 4: Pincher Creek Chinooks vs Medicine Hat Lightning

Chinooks vs Lightning
C. Davis photo

In game 4 the Chinooks faced probably their toughest opponent, the aptly named Lightning. Chinooks #26 Cameron Little scored at 15:11 in the first period, raising hopes. The Lightning managed to restrain the efforts of Chinooks #21 Josh Conley, who still managed to get in two goals. He was effectively caged by the Lightning defence for much of the game.
All but two of the Lightning's ten goals in this game were unassisted. Chinook's goalie #1 Wesley Krampe was under incredible pressure, and made some spectacular saves, including a couple of doozies that ricocheted off of his face mask, seemingly dead centre. The constant barrage took a toll.
Lightning's #9 Daxon Hammel was a force to be reckoned with in the third period, scoring three times.

Final score: Lightning 10, Chinooks 5

Game 5: Elk Valley Wild vs Medicine Hat Phantoms

Elk Valley Wild (in white) vs Medicine Hat Phantoms
C. Davis photo

The Wild and the Phantoms battled to a draw in a game that saw the Wild take the lead in the first period, only to have the Phantom bounce back in the second and hold the line in the third.

Final score: 5-5

Game 6: Pincher Creek Chinooks vs Redcliff Grizzlies

Pincher Creek Chinooks vs Redcliff Grizzlies
C. Davis photo

The Chinooks' effort against the Grizzlies was marked by a ridiculous amount of penalties, particularly in the third period. Even with an imbalance that saw the Chinooks take ten penalties to the Grizzlies' four, the Pincher team was victorious, greatly helped by four goals in a row by Josh Conley. The Chinooks took the lead early, but those aforementioned penalties played havoc with their momentum, or else this would have been an even bigger win for them. Grizzlies' #8 Ty Richard was a speedy wonder to watch, scoring twice, but the Chinooks dominated on offence in the latter half of the game, despite the signs of fatigue and nerves being more apparent for both teams as the game progressed.

Final score: Chinooks 5, Grizzlies 2

Game 7: Medicine Hat Lightning vs Elk Valley Wild
The Lightning continued their romp through the tournament in this game, a complete rout over the Elk Valley Wild. In the first period the Wild were actually dominant on the score board for a time, scoring twice to the Lightning's once. After that if was Lightning striking again and again.

Final score: Lightning 9, Wild 2

SUNDAY

Game 8: Medicine Hat Lightning vs Redcliff Grizzlies
With fatigue setting in all around, the Redcliff Grizzlies managed to slow the Lightning juggernaut, just enough to tie the game. For Redcliff this was a significant game, pulling them out of the basement and proving they have the stuff to compete. They were also the only team to play the Lightning to a draw.

Final score: 4-4

Game 9: Pincher creek Chinooks vs Medicine Hat Phantoms

Pincher Creek Chinooks vs Medicine Hat Phantoms
C. Davis photo

Game 9 was a game the Chinooks desperately wanted to win. Beating the Phantoms would have put them squarely in second place. It was an exciting game to watch, much like the Phantoms/Lightning game that kicked off the tournament, for the same reason. Seeing two evenly matched teams go toe to toe makes for great hockey. The Chinooks scored four times in the first period, and twice in the second, and at one point were up 6-3. Chinooks #9 Trinity Tanner slapped in a classic goal in the second period. The second period ended with the Chinooks up 6-4. In the third period the Phantoms staged a dynamic comeback, scoring twice early in the period, and then once again to take the game. Chinooks #30 Carl Tetachuk was brilliant in the net, but he was under constant fire, getting worked over at every opportunity.

Final Score: Phantoms 7, Chinooks 6