Heartbreak Hotel

Tales from the Timebox: February 25th, 2020

Image: Elk Point Micro-Novice Avalanche at Mallaig Tournament

Atom Avalanche

A heart breaker and some tears for our little Atom Avalanche team this past week when their provincial hopes ended in dramatic fashion in overtime against the CNN Spurs. The Avalanche had made it to the second last round of the provincial round robins after defeating Vermilion and St. Paul earlier and were up on CNN by three goals coming home after the first game played in Gibbons on Family Day. The second game of the two game total point series was held here on this past Wednesday night. The Spurs came out fired up, the score 5 to 2 after regulation time for CNN tying the series that would send the game into an extra sudden death period.

The Avalanche would have their chances in OT, but it was the Spurs who would eventually score and move on to play Vegreville in the final round. The winner of this series will be going to the provincial final. Some people may have doubted that the Avalanche could even get past the first round playing in Atom B. We as the Elk Point minor hockey association are normally seated in C or D for provincials.

In Atom hockey every little town still has a their best hockey players like Connor McDavid who haven’t moved on to play in another town at a higher level. Often in Atom hockey one or two players can really control the game. But what a great run for our little team that could! Great job by the coaching staff of Shane Smith, Jeff Morgan and Todd Rawlake. And lets not forget the team manager who does most of the work making it all happen, Tanya Fontaine.

This past Saturday the Atoms played on the road against the Dewberry/ Marwayne Sled Dogs losing by a close 3 to 2 score. Kale ‘ the Hawk’ Ockerman and ‘Without a Trace’ Morgan each scoring a goal and assisting on each other.

Peewee Avalanche

The Peewee Avalanche played their final two regular season league games this past weekend losing a close one on Saturday and winning big time on Sunday. Both games played here at home. On Saturday they lost to Plamondon 5 to 4. The Avalanche getting outplayed for the first two periods were down 4 to 1, but really turn it on in the third period scoring three goals . But it was too little, too late. ‘ Top Gunner’ Crawford with two goals and an assist. ‘Bo Diddley’ Fontaine and Ella ‘Stellar ‘ Ballas with the other two goals. The Flamand Brothers Kaleb’ Formula One’ and Madden ‘ Mad Dog’ each with an assist. Spencer ‘ Goldie Locks’ Malchowski also with an assist.

On Sunday they hosted the Frog Lake T Birds and had a easy 12 to 0 win. Four goals for ‘Top Gunner’ Crawford. A hat trick for Gavin ‘Green Light’ Kadutski . Madden ‘Mad Dog’ Flamand with a goal and two assists. Kaysen ‘Dynamite’ DeMossiac picked their defenseman’s pocket and scored a goal. Dynamite also had two helpers. Team captain Brendon ‘Blue Line’ Heaesch with a goal and an assist. Brayden ‘Pinball’ Pinette in front of the net finding the puck he pounced on it for a goal. Evett ‘Snoop Dog’ Smereka sniffing out a goal and two assists. Timmy ‘the Freight Train’ Cardinal with a really nice one timer on the power play.

Two assist each for ‘Hurricane Kayl’ Warawa and Kaleb ‘Formula One’ Flamand . Raif ‘Rug Rat’ Evans Anderson, ‘Bo Diddley’ Fontaine, ‘ Cyclone Cole’ Pierce and Trystn ‘Spectacular’ Sakowsky each with an assist. Goalie ‘Good Year Charlie’ Lesyk getting the shut out. He didn’t have very many shots but there was a few very tricky ones to handle. The Peewee regular season is now over. Unfortunately they didn’t make the playoffs, but they will be playing next weekend in the Vermilion tournament.

Bantam Avalanche

The Bantam Avalanche finished the regular season undefeated Saturday when they played their last regular season game at home defeating the Vermilion Tigers 14 to zip. Seven goals and three assists for league leading ‘Mick Jager’ Fontaine. Two goals and four assists for his brother rugged Kade ‘the Kid’ Fontaine. Slippery Seth ‘Motor Man’ Morton with two goals and three assists. Big bruiser Brady ‘Bionic Man’ Hymanyk with two goals and an assist. Slick stick handler Sam ‘Spiderman’ Rogal with a goal and an assist. Three assists for the solid stay at home defenseman ‘St Nic’ Penner. The team joker, Josef ‘Big Red’ Theriault with two assists. Another shut out for goalie captain zero Vanden ‘Super Mario’ Moroziuk. The Avalanche finished the regular season in first place. Therefore they will be getting a bye this coming weekend and start the playoffs sometime following weekend. against either Lac La Biche or Onion Lake. Starting this year the winner of the league after the playoffs will advance to the C Provincial finals.

 

Micro-Novice Avalanche

Our Micro Novice team traveled to Mallaig to play in a one day tournament there. No goals to report but it sounded like everyone had a really good time and are playing more and more like a team every week. Great job by coaches Aaron Aarbo, Ryan Hahn and Poncho St, Arnault and some the other parents who normally help out with the team.

And a big happy 18th birthday going out today to former midget Avalanche player Hank ‘the Tank’ Rogal. The Tank is becoming one of our find young referees in our minor hockey system. He’s very competent, has confidence and knows how to control of the games.

Up in the NHL. Only in Toronto could this ever happen. Things are really bad when the Zamboni driver could suit up as the goalie and beat the Leafs! Maybe our Zamboni guy, Brian ‘Putts’ Poitras should apply for a job there and get the chance to be on Hockey Night in Canada!!

 

K.A. Campbell quote of the week. “Goaltenders are three sandwiches shy of a picnic. From the moment primitive man lurched erect, he survived on the principle that when something hard and potentially lethal comes toward you at great velocity you get the heck out of it’s path.” – Jim Taylor