The Stable
Marketing / Colourific Coatings Acton Minor Midget Select Charges participated
in the Chedoke Winter Classic Select Tournament in Hamilton December 28th
to 30th.
Acton opened the tournament against a team from Mount Hamilton and found themselves trailing after the first two minutes of the game. Both teams settled in after the initial goal and finished the period with Mount Hamilton up 1 – 0. In the second period the Chargers started to get themselves in penalty trouble and found themselves down two players at one point for a full two minutes. Killing the penalties seemed to provide motivation to the Chargers and a shorthanded goal from Chase Aditajs with assists going to Myah Rojo and Sheldon Reid tied the game before the end of the second. Acton continued to battle in the third period with Aditajs getting his second goal in the last minute of the third, final score Mount Hamilton 1 Acton 2.
Acton’s second game later that day was against a team from Brantford who had lost their first game earlier. This contest was very close checking when Acton’s Brandon Hatt broke the scoring late in the first with helpers going to Zachary O’Connor and Tyler Bartels. The 99ers tied the game in the second period but Acton took the lead again on a breakaway goal from Mikey Jankowski with another helper from O’Connor and the second assist going to Eric Baker. Unfortunately Acton could not hold on to the lead and Brantford tied the game late in the third; final score Brantford 2 Acton 2.
Acton’s third game of the round robin was against the host Chedoke Express. Acton found themselves up the two after the first period. The first goal was another breakaway from Jankowski similar to game 2 assisted by Callum Pratt. The second goal went to Andrew Atkins assisted by Tyler Bartels. The Express showed lots of grit and scored midway in the second period and despite Acton having plenty of chances they could not get the puck to find the back of the net when Chedoke’s Logan Yates completed a spectacular end to end rush putting the puck past the Charger’s net minder Jayden Rojo. Final score Acton 2 Chedoke 2.
The fourth game for the Charges was win? and they were guaranteed a spot in the Championship game scenario, tie or lose it was sit and wait?. Their opponents were a fast skating team from London who had lost their previous two games. Both teams exchanged goals in the first period with Acton’s marker coming from Brandon Hatt assisted by Andrew Atkins and Zachary Timbers. Mikey Jankowski and Chase Aditajs scored for Acton in the second period but London Selects scored two of their own so the game was tied 3 – 3 after two. The Chargers found themselves down a goal in the third when Hatt scored his second of the game assisted by Atkins. Needing the win to have a chance to play in the finals the London team pulled their goalie for the extra attacker, when Callum Pratt took advantage on the empty net and scored to put Acton ahead. Not to be out done the London team tied the game with seventeen seconds remaining in the third, London 5 Acton 5.
With 5 teams in the tournament everyone played each other with the top 2 moving on to the finals Saturday afternoon and with one win and three ties. Acton found themselves playing the host Chedoke Express, with their 3 wins and 1 tie for the Championship
After a great warm-up lead by Hockey Mom Marcia Baker, the Chargers came out firing on all cylinders dominating the early part of the game. Unfortunately Chedoke was able to get the first marker midway through the first period which ended 1 – 0. Acton’s first goal was an unassisted effort from Ryan H. on the short side, game tied 1 -1 after two. A very tense third period could not solve anything and the teams went to a sudden victory 3 on 3 overtime period. Acton had several great scoring chances in the first minute of the overtime but not before the Express player intercepted a pass to the point and the Express went in 2 on 1 scoring and winning the game Chedoke 2 Acton 1.
“Five games over three days is a lot of hockey for these young players” said Manager John Aditajs “but we are extremely proud of the effort put forth by the players and appreciate the parents, siblings and friends out to support the team.” Special thanks go out to Jocelyn Dance and TD Wealth Financial Planning who sponsored the tournament.
