28th Annual Bill Batten Tournament, News, Novice Rep, U9, 2016-2017 (South Huron Minor Hockey)

This Team is part of the 2016-2017 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Nov 09, 2016 | Jill Kerslake | 1088 views
28th Annual Bill Batten Tournament
Friday November 4th through Sunday November 6th, the South Huron Sabres Novice Rep. team hosted the 28th Annual Bill Batten Memorial Tournament and won the gold medal. After five great games over the 3-day event, the Novice Rep. Sabres are proud gold medalists. Solid team effort and positional play from all the boys was the key to the Sabres success over the weekend.  The entire team contributed in this weekend’s efforts and should be extremely proud of the way they played.

Game 1 - Against the Highland Storm, the Sabres scored early and often ending in a 17-0 victory.  The host Sabres were fired up on way to the largest offensive game of the season.  Great passing was the highlight of this game, with 7 assists coming from the defense including a game high 4 assists from Heath Bogart.   Defencemen Ryan Obre, Jesse Debruyn, Heath Bogart and Cullen (T-Bone) Kerslake were strong on the blueline and were able to move the puck well.  Goaltender Logan Morley was in goal to get the shutout.  Player of the game was Kane Barch.

Game 2 - Against the Mooretown Jr. Flags was a hard fought game against a very solid team.  The fast skating Mooretown squad led 5-0 early into the third period, then the Sabres clawed back to make the game 5-3 with 3 quick goals before an empty net goal by Mooretown ended the game to make it 6-3.  The loss was the only one of the tournament for the Sabres.  The coaches were very proud of how the boys remained focused, never gave up to battled back getting the game within 2 goals!  Player of the game was Ryan Obre.

Game 3 - Against the Ingersoll Express, found itself to be an elimination game.  Only the winner of this game would move on to the semi-finals from pool “B”.  After an evenly played first period the game was tied 2-2.  The Sabres were able to get 2 goals early into the second period and added one in the third on way to a 5-3 victory.  Forwards Jayden Pullman, Kane Barch, Sam Consitt, Jackson O’Reilly, Jack Taylor, Hudson Leenders, Luke Dalrymple and Brady Farquhar played great at both ends of the ice with strong fore-checking and back-checking.  Goaltender Logan Morley stood tall in net for the win.  Player of the game was Jesse Debruyn.

After the 3 game round robin the South Huron Sabres found themselves in second place in pool “B” and had to prepare themselves for pool “A” first place team Lambeth Lancer’s in the semi-finals.

Game 4 (Semi-Final) - Against the Lambeth Lancer’s was another hard fought game that featured strong two-way play.  An early goal 22 seconds into the game from Kane Barch got the Sabres rolling, and managed to lead 3-2 after the first period.  The game remained a one-goal game after the second period before the Sabres added 2 third period goals to win this elimination game 5-2!   The defence and goaltending were strong and held the Lancer’s offense to just 2 goals.  Brady Farquhar stepped in on defence with a strong effort!  Players of the game were Logan Morley and Sam Consitt.

Game 5 ("A" Final) - Against the Mooretown Jr. Flags was a rematch from the  the team that handed the boys their only loss of the tournament in the round robin play. The Sabres were up for the task in this gold medal game and led 2-0 after the first period on goals from Hudson Leenders and Jayden Pullman.  The undefeated Jr. Flags battled back with 3 consecutive second period goals before Sabres player Jack Taylor tied it late in the second and had the game going into the third period knotted at 3-3.  A hard fought third period was next with the game on the line with end-to-end play that featured strong two way skating from the entire team.  Sam Consitt broke the deadlock tie open with the game winner with just 57 seconds left in regulation.  The defence turned down a late charge as the game came to an end.  The Sabres won 4-3!  On the heels of their best game of the season as a group.  Goaltender Logan Morley again was strong in net capping off an amazing tournament between the pipes making numerous key saves throughout this nail biter.

Congratulations to the Sabres Novice Rep.Team!  All the coaches, family and friends are very proud of your hard work, team play and accomplishments over the weekend! 

The (14-3-2) South Huron Sabres will now go back into Shamrock league play and prepare for the Parkhill Regional Silver Stick Tournament December 27th- 30th.  

Go Sabres Go!!!

Derrick Leenders
Coach