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Peewee A2 Steel Win in Ottawa
The Stittsville Steel Peewee A hockey team ended the 2006-2007 season by playing in the 40th Annual Ottawa Year End Minor Hockey Tournament in support of Roger’s House. Maybe it was the single wrap of pink tape applied to each stick before the final game in honour of those families who have used the facilities of Roger's House. Maybe it was the roar of the Steel parents pumping up the boys. But whatever the reason, the Steel saved the best hockey of the season for this weekend and were crowned Peewee A Champions at the Jim Peplinski Arena on Sunday afternoon.
The Steel crossed Bank Street Friday night to take on the Ottawa Centre Renovators in first round action. The game was a rematch of the opening game of the 8th Annual Bell Capital Cup game. In that one, the Steel cruised to a 4-0 victory. It was a different story tonight. Perhaps they were rusty from a week long layoff. Or perhaps they took a weaker opponent for granted. The game was a classic battle of a team that passed well versus a team that skated well.
The Steel stampeded out of the gate on the opening face-off and with just 9 seconds ticked off the clock, Tyler Roth marched in on the right wing and fired a high hard shot blocker side to open the scoring. But just 1 1/2 minutes later Ottawa Centre marched back and scored with good stickhandling that is characteristic of non-checking teams. Robert Martin put the Steel back in the lead half way through the second period when Matthew Roberts fed a pass from Jordan McKenzie up to Robert. In alone, he deked and scored on the backhand, highlight reel style. Ottawa Centre scored with just 1:05 left in the third period to tie the game. The teams were even strength but four-on-four since both had a man in the box serving separate minor penalties. On a scramble in the Steel end, it looked like goaltender Giovanni Romano had come out to pounce on the puck or poke check it away, and collided with a Renovator and was out of the play when the shot deflected off of the downed player. Both teams had chances throughout the game. The Renovators passed well and easily deked past the overcomitting Steel defenders. Stittsville skated well with the puck but many shots went wide and others were high on the goalie, and neither shot was effective at generating rebounds. Skating won out in the end. The Steel easily outskated, out-pressured and outplayed Ottawa Centre in the extra frame. Finally, with exactly two minutes remaining, Nicholas Rivet picked up Robert Martin's rebound, deked and scored exactly as Robert had done two periods earlier.
The 2-1 overtime victory advanced the Steel to the second round on Saturday and a matchup with the Orleans Talking Tacos at the Sandy Hill Arena. The Ottawa Senators Hardest Working Player Helmet was awarded to Robert Martin who played forward and notched a goal and an assist.
The game against the Orleans Talking Tacos was a rematch of their meeting in the Bell Sensplex Holiday House League Tournament in November. The previous game ended in a 1-1 draw. This time the Steel scored early, just 35 seconds in, when Matthew Roberts hauled the puck out of his own end and fired a pass cross-ice to Robert Martin. Robert's shot was stopped and Matthew Codogno flipped the puck over the sprawling goalie. The Steel continued to pressure often but couldn't get the insurance marker until the second period. On the powerplay, Jordan McKenzie fed Nicholas Rivet. Nick got the shot away and Tyler Roth picked up the rebound at 9:08. Tyler netted his second goal of the game at 1:22 of the second period. Tyler took Matthew Weir's pass and worked his way down the right side scoring with a big wrist shot identical to yesterday's goal. With 32 seconds remaining, Nicholas Rivet scored what would be the game's final goal to make it 4-0. In the third period, the Steel got into penalty trouble taking four minor penalties. Fortunately, the Steel penalty kill was outstanding and they allowed the Talking Tacos few chances. With just 41 seconds left in the game Keegan MacNeill was hauled down on his way to the Orleans goal and was awarded a penalty shot. His high shot was blocked.
The Orleans Talking Tacos passed the puck well and often broke out two or three across. But the Steel defence was equal to the task allowing only ten shots all game. The Steel on the other hand still skated well, but they showed their passing skills as well adding 7 of 8 possible assists to their stats. Probably the biggest change in the Steel game was how they adapted to the non-checking game and figured out how to check without overcommitting. Many Orleans passes or dekes were foiled by the Steel using their bodies or sticks to stop the puck. Goaltender Mathew Plouffe was inactive for almost a whole period having only faced a handful of shots to that point and earned himself a shutout in the 4-0 victory.
The victory moved the Steel into a semi-final berth with Valley East Chico’s Bowl on Sunday morning at the Jim Peplinski Arena. Matthew Weir earned the Ottawa Senators Hardest Working Player Helmet for his efforts tonight. Matthew picked up two assists and held the Tacos at bay most of the game.
The Steel outplayed Valley East Chico’s Bowl, a Peewee B team from the Sudbury area, outshooting them 42 to 6. But the Steel faced a strong goalie that stood on his head to keep his team in the game. Valley East opened the scoring at 2:15 of the first period when a shot from the left side was kicked back to the shooter who quickly fired the rebound in past Mathew Plouffe. The Steel had finally adjusted to the non-checking game and coupled with their strong skating and passing they dominated their opposition. The second period was scoreless, but finally in the third period, Matthew Codogno hauled the puck down the left side and sent a pass to Tyler Roth. His shot was blocked, but Nicholas Rivet picked up the rebound. At 4:57 Marc Giroux cleared the puck out of the Steel zone along the right boards. Jordan McKenzie used his body to shield the puck from the defender and and Tyler Roth continued up ice, over the blueline and fired a low shot through the goalie's five-hole. The Stittsville Steel went on the penalty kill with just 27 seconds left. It looked like the game was iced when Eric Perry sent a slow shot at the Valley East goal that was shot away by a defender who hustled down the ice and hooked the puck away on the goal line and crashed into the net in the process.
Blake Hanna earned the Ottawa Senators Hardest Working Player Helmet. The 2-1 victory allowed the Steel to advance to the championship final on Sunday afternoon against the Nepean Leprechauns who earned their berth on Saturday.
The Stittsville Steel saved the best for last by defeating the Nepean Leprechauns 4-1 in the Peewee A final of the 40th Annual Ottawa Year End Minor Hockey Tournament Sunday afternoon at the Jim Peplinski Arena.
Prior to the tournament starting, the Steel agreed to a game change in order to help the organizers resolve a schedule conflict. The change meant that the Steel had to earn four victories to win the championship where all other teams would only need three. And the Steel delivered. Playing their fourth game this weekend, and the second of the day, the Steel opened the scoring at 8:54 when Matthew Roberts broke up a D-to-D pass. He picked up the loose puck and went in alone on goal. He deked the goalie and forced him to open up the five-hole. His shot was blocked, but as he continued in on goal he poked the puck through. But the Leprechauns responded at 7:33 of the second period when they held the puck in the offensive zone on a Steel line change and the shot from the face-off circle found the net. Robert Martin put the Steel in the lead to stay with a shorthanded goal late in the second period. Matthew Roberts won the face-off in the offensive zone, sending the puck back to Robert who fired a backhand shot along the ice. In the third period, shorthanded again, Matthew Roberts won another key faceoff in the Leprechaun zone. The puck came back to a waiting Robert Martin who fired a one-timer past the Nepean goaltender. Late in the game with the Nepean goalie on the bench in favour of the extra attacker and the Steel with a man in the penalty box, Matthew Codogno sent a shot over centre ice and into the empty net with just one second left.
Tyler Roth earned the Tournament MVP for the Steel, scoring four goals and one assist over the weekend. David Masson earned the Ottawa Senators Hardest Working Player Helmet. Head Coach Gary Codogno, Assistant Coaches John Weir and Paul McKenzie as well as Trainer Alanna Jorgensen guided the team to victory.
The Steel would like to thank the following proud sponsors for their support this season: Trees Company, Sheila McLuskey Coldwell Banker First Ottawa Realty, The Renovator, Total Home Consignment, Instile Tile & Design, Jason's Landscaping & Snowplowing, Chevy West, Holiday Pools & Spas, Waste Management, rjw Stonemasons, PCS General Contractors, Tan Orthodontics, Bradley's Insurance, Mike Robinson Royal Lepage, PbFraser & Associates, Showbiz Entertainment & Gifts, Main Street Cafe
The Steel will meet as a team for the final time this season as they wrap up with their end-of-season party this coming weekend.
Click here for a photo.Front: Giovanni Romano Middle: Blake Hanna, David Masson, Eric Perry, Marc Giroux, Matthew Roberts, Matthew Codogno Back: Assistant Coach Paul McKenzie, Head Coach Gary Codogno, Tyler Roth, Nicholas Rivet, Robert Martin, Adam Aziz, Trainer Alanna Jorgensen, Jordan McKenzie, Assistant Coach John Weir, Matthew Weir Missing: Joel Abrams, Keegan MacNeill, Manager Rick Roberts