Almaguin Minor Hockey

by Debbie Rogers

Dec 12, 2007

With winter weather upon us it feels like hockey season in Almaguin. Almaguin minor hockey fans found warmth at the arena as they cheered on their local teams, catching some very exciting games at home and on the road this past weekend.

Novice: This weekend the Novice Ice Devils played two games, one in Port Carling on Saturday and then at home against Parry Sound on Sunday.

Although the Devils couldn’t pull off a win, they were proud to get on the board with a score of 6-3 against the Thunder. In the first period, Mitchell Grant fed Cole Earl the puck for Cole’s first goal of the year. In the second period Sam Pauley fed Faith Forsayeth the puck from behind the net. Faith’s shot on net was followed up by Owen Johnstone for his first goal of the year. Early in the third, Sam Pauley fed the wingers out in front, with Connor Eastaugh putting the puck between the pipes.

The Parry Sound game saw the team work and saw some great defensive efforts from Andy Coleman and Michelle Grant. Sam Pauley worked hard offensively and defensively, and Jerri Arsenault showed up to play with a very strong effort in goal, keeping the Devils in the game.

Next weekend the Novice team will be in Burk’s Falls and South River for two home games before the Christmas break. Hope to see you rink side.

Atoms: The Atom Ice Devils faced off against the Bracebridge Bears at home. During the past two weeks the Atom Devils have worked hard in practice, improving on many facets of their game.

Although Bracebridge came out on top, there were many areas of improvement in the Ice Devils’ game.

The lone goal for the Devils on this day was scored by Dryden Sollman, assisted by Simon Holenski and Dillon Flynn.

Next weekend the Atom Ice Devils play three games. Two are on the road and then they wrap up with a home game against Huntsville on Sunday, prior to the Christm on the road and wrap up with a home game against Huntsville on Sunday, prior to the Christmas break.

Peewee and Bantam: There were no stats available at press time.

Midget AE: The Midget AE team had both a home and an away game this weekend.
The first was played on Saturday, Dec. 8 in Burk’s Falls playing host to the Bracebridge select team. Bracebridge was short benched but came out to play some serious hockey and the game started off with some speed and was very physical.

Dustin French got the nod in goal and was called upon early, making two very difficult saves up close when Bracebridge stormed the net. The Bears opened the score in the first and it was a 1-0 game. The tight-knit defensive Almaguin squad, led by Kade Gray who blocked shots and played strong on ‘D,’ kept the visitors off the board. It was Daniel Pajot who picked up on Keith Marshall’s rebound, after Keith had made a nice rush up ice, to knock in Almaguin’s first goal, tying the game.

The Ice Devils went up 2-1 on a good play as Almaguin put some pressure on Bracebridge. Connor Hesse started the play down low and Derek Rogers fought to get possession of the puck while down on the ice. He passed one over to Sean Hermiston who made no mistake, putting it by the Bear’s goaltender.

Almaguin’s third goal was created by another good scramble in front of the net. Pat Skiffington would get the assist and the goal was awarded to Craig MacKay as the puck deflected off a Bracebridge player into the net.

Almaguin had the momentum of a 5 on 3, and it looked like the team was taking control of the play. However, Almaguin took a penalty and had trouble in their end as Bracebridge brought the game to within a goal.

Bracebridge notched another one before the end of the second and it was 3-3 going into the third. Coming back from behind seemed to ignite the Bears and Almaguin scrambled to get the go-ahead goal and had trouble on their power play in the third, unable to get out of their zone.

The team had a few good chances and Dustin made some nice stops, but the team was unable to notch another goal and Bracebridge took advantage and put one away in the third, taking the game 4-3.

The next day the team travelled to Mactier to face North Muskoka, and Dustin French took his place between the pipes once again.

The home team was a fast-skating, very physical team and was on board first with two quick goals. Almaguin worked extremely hard, skating faster, taking numerous hits and did not give up.

Early in the first Daniel Pajot was injured on the play and had to leave the game. Almaguin continued to battle and were on the board with a quick shot from Tyler Anderson from just inside the blue line. The team’s second goal happened thanks to hard work in front of the net. Pat Skiffington started the play, Derek Rogers picked up the puck and took a wrist shot on net that bounced back out to Connor Hesse who wired in the rebound.

North Muskoka had three players ejected from the game and continued to play a hard-hitting game.

Although Almaguin put forth a very good effort, the game was a hard-fought physical battle. Almaguin would score two goals, unable to generate any more offence and North Muskoka walked away with the game. The next game is in Bracebridge on Saturday, Dec. 15 at 8:20 p.m.

Midget: The midgets travelled to Huntsville on Sunday to face off against the Otters.
Thomas Stevens came up from the Bantam team to help out and Greg Arnold was back in the lineup as the boys took to the ice.

Huntsville came out fast and fired lots of rubber at Ryan Whitney, who did an outstanding job stopping pucks and played a very strong game between the pipes.

Greg Arnold made some very impressive defensive plays, making it very difficult for Huntsville’s players to get to the net. Brody Brimacombe was on his game and moved the puck up ice, but was upended by a Huntsville player. Still, he managed to get the puck out front and over to Dylan McComiskey who took a shot that found its mark.

Late in the first Huntsville tied it up and it was 1-1 going into the second.

Ryan was sharp in net when Almaguin was short-handed and made two very difficult saves, giving his team a chance to stay in the game. Huntsville netted the second goal and went ahead by one, but Almaguin rallied and kept the pressure on, mucking in the corners for possession and beating Huntsville to the puck.

All their hard work paid off. Brody Brimacombe earned himself another assist when he was able to get the puck over to Corey Rogers who took a hard snap shot from the corner that hit the goalie’s shoulder, bounced off the crossbar and went into the net. It was a 2-2 game.

Almaguin came out in the third anxious for a win and, although short-handed, took the play to Huntsville. Brody Brimacombe made some nice moves as he worked his way up ice and through the Huntsville defence to take a beauty shot that landed in the back of the net giving Almaguin the lead on a short-handed goal. Huntsville pulled their goalie in the dying seconds of the third, but Almaguin held on and won the game 3-2.

The midgets will be at home for the next couple of games. The team takes to the ice in Sundridge on Friday, Dec. 14 at 8 p.m. versus Bracebridge. The following day the team plays host to Parry Sound in Sundridge at 1 p.m.

On Sunday, Dec. 16 the OMHA and MPS will be hosting the third annual Midget All Star Game in Parry Sound, beginning at 1 p.m. with a skills competition. The All Star Game starts at 4 p.m. This “friendly” competition began three years ago and has grown into a very successful event. The OMHA Director of Development Programs, Ian Taylor, advises this event gives players “the opportunity to play with players they regularly play against” and provides the OMHA “the opportunity to recognize and highlight the talents of Midget players and coaches.”

The premise is that each team in the MPS league sends one line plus a goalie to compete against and play with the other MPS teams in the area’s league.

The All Star Game has the north versus the south with Parry Sound, Huntsville and Almaguin facing off against Port Carling, Haliburton and Bracebridge.

This year Almaguin will be sending: Greg Arnold, Brody Brimacombe, Corey Rogers, Zach Attwell, Shawn Miller and Kelsey Preston to represent the Almaguin area.

If you have any minor hockey news you would like to see in this column contact Debbie Rogers at rogersnorth@sympatico.ca.