The team entered the CanLan Future Stars tournament after two exhibition games with lessons learned and lines set for the weekend. Starting things off was a game against The Buffalo Junior Sabres. A disappointing 8-3 loss does not tell the whole story.
The Ice Sharks came out with intensity and improved as the game progressed. Buffalo was outplaying the Sharks, but Dylan Kints was spectacular in net and kept them in the game. Crawling back from a 5-0 deficit the Sharks put three in a row in the net making it a 5-3 game. Starting the team off was Dakota Coultes with assists from Kaden Hoggarth and Sam Young. Goals also went to Nathan Naves and Zach Wall, with assists to Wall, Naves and Mason Weber. The Sabers added another in the third and then two more in the last 2 minutes of play. Strong showing from Thomas Gangl and Callum McMann on defense to keep Buffalo out of the Sharks zone.
The second game was a face off against the Cougars. The Ice Sharks walked away with an 8-0 win, building confidence, teamwork, and strategy along the way. At the end of the first the score was 4-0 with goals to Wall, Hoggarth, Coultes and Naves scoring on the Power Play. Assists went to Young (2), Ethan Hewitt, Coultes, Hoggarth, and Wall. Scoring in the second was Thomas Gangl with an assist from Weber. Nolan Reiger and Kyle Dunn were impressive for the Sharks and had strong showings this game making a difference for the team. Goals in the third went to Hoggarth (2) and Bobby Leis, with assists to Kyle Dunn, Coultes, Weber and Reiger.
Game three was an early morning wakeup call and they were met by Maksymum Hockey a team out of Rochester New York. Maksymum struck first with a goal in the first few minutes of the game. The Sharks battled back and by the end of the second the score was 3-2 for the Sharks. An exciting third period ended the game with a 6-2 win for the Ice Sharks. Braeden McNaughton was out of his sick bed and on the ice for this game demonstrating why he was missed the previous day with his great defensive moves for the Sharks. Goals were scored by Wall (2), Naves (2), Hewitt and Young. Assists went to Naves, Hoggarth (2), Coultes and Young.
Game four was not a walk in the park and the Sharks lost to Total Hockey out of Durham with an 8-3 finish. Goals went to Wall, Hewitt, and Naves with assists to Leis, Dunn and Weber. With a 2 and 2 record, the Ice Sharks advanced to the Gold Medal final against the Quinte Spitfires.
The final game was a nail biting, fan frenzy while the Sharks put on a show. The game was tied at one each after the first. Down in the second, Max Newson turned things around with a big glove save on a breakaway from the Spitfires. Not looking back the Sharks ended the 2nd tied at 3 apiece. Bobby Leis had eaten his Wheaties this morning and was on fire for the Ice Sharks, attacking the net at every chance. Early in the 3rd he struck with the Sharks goal and the team was able to hold onto this lead for the rest of the game. Key defensive plays by Jared DeWinter made a huge difference this game and he must have shared his breakfast with Leis. Goals also went to Reiger, Gangl, Naves with assists to Hewitt, Coultes, Hoggarth(2), and Dunn.
After this inaugural tournament for the 2002 Ice Sharks the coaches have walked away with a gold medal trophy, and pride for a team that has come together so quickly and performed so well, especially under pressure. You can catch the 2002 Ice Sharks in action on May 10 in an exhibition game with PSE at 6:00pm in Goderich. The next tournament is May 13-15 and local fans are encouraged to come out to the games in Stratford and St. Mary’s as the team tests their skills at the Hockey Hi Lites Tournament.