Nov 07, 2013 | lmailloux | 326 views
Blades of Steel Tournament Recap -Blenheim, ON
The Novice Rep Oilers competed in the Blenheim Blades of Steel Novice Championship Tournament on the Weekend and played 5 hard fought games before bowing out. A Power play goal with 1min 31 left in the game sent Mt. Brydges to the final and the Oilers home. Final Score was 3-2.
In Game 1, the Oilers faced off against the undefeated Blenheim team. Blenheim boasts a dangerous 1-2 punch with #81 and #91 doing all their scoring. Entering the game #91 Braedan Degleas (who's father DJ once scored 50 goals for the Petrolia Junior B Jets during his playing days) had 96 goals on the year and was gunning for 100.
The game started fast and the Oilers were on their heels and it was quickly 2-0 before the Oilers mounted their attack. The Oilers kept skating and peppered the Blenheim goalie with shots from all over the ice. The Oilers carried the play but were stymied by great saves by the goaltender or shots that missed their mark. Heading into the 3rd it was a one goal game sitting at 5-4 for Blenheim. Both teams traded goals to make it 6-5 heading to the final 5 minutes of the game, when Blenheim scored to ice the victory. The Oilers missed Max Egan, out with illness and relied on a 3 defensemen rotation all game.
Scoring for Petrolia was Nathan Perry(2), Jace McGrail (2), Will Hull (1). Brady Busby McEachen, Pheonix Timmington, McGrail and Hull all recorded assists. Blenheim's Degleas #91 scored 4 goals and 3 assists (including his 100 goal of season), and teammate David Brown had 3 goals and 4 assists.
In Game 2, Petrolia squared off against a tough Mt. Brydges Team. Running low on energy and a possible Halloween Hangover the Oilers could not mount the same pressure as earier in the day and fell 3-1 to the Cougars. It was close right til the final 5 minutes before a goal put it out of reach. Numerous penalties in the third, was the nail in the coffin for a tired Oilers team. Will Hull scored the lone Petrolia Goal unassisted.
In Game 3, Petrolia needed a victory to stay alive in the tournament and got one in a big way posting an 8-0 victory over Waterford. The Oilers peppered the opposition with pressure and lots of shots. Kento Gudz was not busy posting a shutout. Shane Knight was on fire posting a hat-trick. Other markers were counted by Hull, Reed Douglas, Reid King, Noel Sanderson and Miller Mailloux who played one of his best games of the season. Assists were not known as the game sheet did not get to us.
In Game 4 vs Dunville, Petrolia had to win to advance to the semi finals on Sunday. The game started out tentative and chippy, and the Oilers found themselves down 2-1 after period one. But after the Oilers got on the board they started to overpower the opposition and take over the play. The Oilers had an outstanding effort from Logan Crummy who played one of his strongest games of the season so far. Scoring for the Oilers were Crummy, McGrail(3), Hull, and Sanderson. Assists went to Crummy, McGrail, Perry and Egan. Final Score was 6-3 and a trip to the Semi Finals vs Mt. Brydges.
In the Semi Finals, the Oilers earned a re-match with Mt. Brydges and again it came down to the wire. Petrolia traded chances with the Cougars but a few untimely, needless penalties ended up costing the Oilers as Mt. Brydges scored with 1min 31s left in the third. Timeouts and pulled goaltender got the Oilers close and had a chance in the final seconds but couldn't hit the yawning cage to tie it up. Final score was 3-2. A great game, back and forth, and could have gone either way. Valuable lessons were learned regarding penalties. Scoring both goals for Petrolia was Jace McGrail assisted by Brady Busby-McEachen who played most of the third period while killing penalties and regular shifts.
Great effort boys. Keep working hard and getting stronger every week.
The Tournament was won by Blenheim 4-3 who scored with 5.1seconds left in the third on a mad scramble in the crease.
*stats may not be totally accurate as we did not receive all gamesheets and am going from notes taken from games