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Bombers Bantam B win at Cameron Smith Friendship Tourney
The Cameron Smith Friendship Tournament originated after Cameron Andrew Smith tragically lost his life in a car accident on November 12, 2005. Cameron, aged 13, played Bantam hockey with the Kanata Minor Hockey Association. All profits from the Cameron Smith Friendship Tournament go to the Cameron Smith Memorial Fund which provides financial bursaries, to help disadvantaged Bantam age male and female hockey players. The tournament features 24 teams at the house league A, B and C levels. Money is raised from registration fees as well as from activities during the tournament such as 50/50 draws, a silent auction, karaoke night and a pancake breakfast. As well, the referees and linesmen volunteered their time, providing over 60 hours over of officiating over the three day tournament.
On Friday morning, the Bombers opened the tournament with a 2-2 draw against the Gloucester Cougars. Despite outshooting Gloucester 34-8 the Bombers could only muster a tie. Bombers forward Matthew Roberts opened the scoring mid-way through the first period, but Gloucester countered in the second and then again early in the third on a power play. The Bombers pummeled the Cougars' goalie with 17 shots in the third period and finally, with a little over four minutes remaining in the game, Kyle Murphy banged home Shane Slatter's rebound to pull the Bombers even.
Friday evening, the Bombers took on the Orleans Gladiators at the Kanata Recreation Centre. Once again the Bombers outplayed and outshot their opponents. Although they appeared to cruise to a 5-0 victory, the onslaught didn't begin until the third period and until they had fired 25 shots at the Orleans goalie. Bombers' centre Eric Perry opened the scoring early in the third period and then added a breakaway goal along with those by Zach Hopkins and Matthew Roberts with breakout passes from Shane Slatter and Jeremy Leung. Bombers' defenseman Dan Graham went end-to-end and scored a highlight reel goal, streaking down the left side, deking the Orleans goalie and firing into the open goal. Bombers' goalie Evan Braun credited the whole team with the shutout as the defence allowed only six shots on Evan and held the Gladiators without a shot in the second period.
Before their final round robin game against the Clarence Senators on Sunday morning, the Bombers knew by the point standings that only a victory could ensure that they advanced beyond the round robin. This time it was the Bombers who were outshot, but they still managed a 3-1 victory. Just past the three minute mark of the first period, Bombers forward Matthew Roberts opened the scoring on a wrap around. Just three minutes later, the Clarence Senators scored to tie the game. But late in the second period, the frustrated Clarence Senators got into penalty trouble and Jeremy Leung capitalized. On the power play, Zach Hopkins' shot was blocked by a defender and Jeremy fired the loose puck into the goal. Jordan Fahey added the insurance marker less than thirty seconds later when he broke in alone and scored on a visibly frustrated Senators goalie. More Clarence penalties, along with strong team defence, and great goaltending held Clarence off and ensured the Stittsville Bombers would advance to the semi-finals.
The Stittsville Bombers are well acquainted with their tournament semi-final opponent, the Kanata Cougars. The Bombers and Cougars play in the Kanata Minor Hockey Association Bantam B non-checking league. Although the Cougars are currently one point ahead of the Bombers in the standings of the seven team league, their two previous meetings were both close fought victories. So it's no surprise then that when the Bombers and Cougars met on Sunday afternoon for the B championship semi-final game that both the shots on goal and the final score would be close. The Kanata Cougars scored breakaway goals near the eight minute mark of the first period and again at the eight minute mark of the second and looked to be headed to victory. But the Stittsville Bombers clawed their way back into the game later in the second when Peter Greenwood took Eric Perry's pass into the Cougar's zone. His shot was stopped, but Eric banged home the rebound. In the dying seconds of the second period Zach Hopkins' shot was deflected by a Kanata defender, through the goalie's five-hole and into his own goal to tie the game 2-2. At the eight minute mark of the third period, defenceman Ryan Butler carried the puck into the Kanata zone and fired a low shot. The shot was blocked at the goal but in the ensuing scramble Jeremy Leung pounced on the first rebound and finally Zach Hopkins finished with what would be the eventual game winning goal. The Stittsville Bombers edged out the Kanata Cougars by a final score of 3-2 and advanced into the finals against the Peterborough Maple Leafs.
The B Championship finals were held at the Jack Charron Arena on Sunday afternoon. The Bombers were playing their third game of the day - a round robin game at 8:00AM, the semi-final game at 1:00PM and now the finals at 4:00PM against the Peterborough Maple Leafs. A well rested Peterborough team completed their round robin with a victory at 10:00AM and advanced directly to the finals by virtue of their 3-0 round robin record. The Bombers sported their new ‘third' uniform which features the Stittsville RAMS name and logo on a black knit jersey in place of their usual red and white Stittsville Redmen jerseys. And the "Men in Black" made it clear from the outset who wanted this championship the most. The Bombers opened the scoring in the first period when Adam Iob poked the puck past the Peterborough defender who was pinching at the Bombers' blueline. Adam broke in as he approached the goal he poked the puck past the goalie. Less than thirty seconds later, Eric Perry came from behind the Peterborough goal and tried to jam the puck in. It was blocked but Peter Greenwood scored on the rebound. Frustrated by being down two goals half-way through the game and being stymied by a hot goalie, the Maple Leafs took a series of penalties that left them short-handed for the remainder of the second period. During that power play, Matthew Roberts set up the third goal with a pass back to Hyuksoon Hwang on the point before heading to the goal. Hyuksoon sent the puck cross-ice to Jordan Fahey, who scored through the screen set by Matthew. To set up the final goal at 6:20 of the third period, defenceman Will Lowry sent the puck from the point to Zach Hopkins. The save was made but Matthew Roberts was waiting on the doorstep for the rebound. The Bombers held on through the rest of the third period to capture the Championship with a 4-0 victory. Goaltender Evan Braun came up with several key stops and turned away twenty-five shots for the shutout, and was supported by strong defensive play and timely goals.
The Stittsville Bombers were crowned the 2009 Cameron Smith Friendship Tournament B Champions on Sunday. Although the Bombers may have won the hockey tournament, the real winner was the Cameron Smith Memorial Fund, which raised $25,000, and the community it supports.
The Stittsville Bombers would like to thank their sponsors, Waste Management, Deschênes and Poitras Dental Centre, Sandy Villeneuve Allstate Insurance, Trees Company and Leading Edge Geomatics for their generous support this season.