Minor Atom A Captures Second Tournament Title of the Season, News, MINOR ATOM, U11, 2018-2019, A (Milton Minor Hockey)

This Team is part of the 2018-2019 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Dec 07, 2018 | astevens | 2148 views
Minor Atom A Captures Second Tournament Title of the Season
The Minor Atom A Winterhawks made their long drive to Belle River well worth it this past weekend. The boys captured their second straight tournament title with a nail biting, 3-2 championship victory over the Burlington Bulldogs.




The boys started the tournament out with a bang on Friday with two very decisive victories. In the opener, Milton topped Markham 10-2 highlighted by some great work in their own zone by D-partners Cameron Champion and Chase Nasato. In the afternoon game, the Winterhawks defeated Amherstburg with another offensive outburst finishing the game 9-4. Noah Dapat, Gabriel Antonucci,  Michael Duggan and Gavin Putzu were just a few of the many Winterhawks that found the back of the net in the two opening games while Charlie Straka and Aidan Ryan chipped in with some key play making assists.

Saturday proved to be a tough day as the boys battled the puck and ended up with a 3-3 tie with Stoney Creek and then a 3-1 loss to a Grimsby team who was out to avenge a 5-0 loss Milton pinned on them from a previous tournament this year. Milton's only goal was set up as a result of a great play by defenseman Kyle Stevens.

The boys still managed to secure a spot in the semi finals on Sunday and faced a big and strong team from Michigan who finished the round robin as the first seed. This game was a back and forth affair that finished 2-2 after regulation and overtime was required. The tournament format had the teams play 3-on-3 for a five-minute period but Milton only needed two shifts as Andrew Thatton knocked in the game winner, his second of the contest, after Matteo Mazzawi rushed the puck up ice and drove the net hard, forcing a rebound that led to the winner. Gavin Myson kept his team in the game the whole way by making several key saves.

In the final, the boys were tested once again in another close, back and forth affair. Colin Richards scored the game winner late in the third period and after two late penalties against Milton and the Burlington goalie out, Milton battled hard to defend the lead with 6 skaters against their 3. Solid defending for the last 90 seconds by Max Cai, Aiden Hewitt and Armaan Kenth and strong goaltending by Gavin DeFrancesco allowed the Winterhawks to stave off a strong offense from Burlington and secure their second straight tournament win.

Way to go you 'Hawks!!!

 

Written by: John DeFrancesco

Photo by: John Ryan, Insight Imaging Photography

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