Blyth Brussels U18 Rep Crusaders reach Wingham Silver Stick semi-final
BY SHAWN LOUGHLIN
The Huron-Bruce Blizzard claimed victory in the U18 Rep C Championship in the Wingham Silver Stick Tournament on Sunday, with a 2-1 victory over the Arran Elderslie Ice Dogs.
This came after the U18 Rep Blyth Brussels Crusaders made their way to the semi-final round with the Ice Dogs, only to lose by a tight score of 2-1, ending the tournament for the locals. The Blizzard defeated the Walkerton Capitals in the second semi-final game, also by a score of 2-1, to punch their ticket to the finals.
To open the tournament, the Crusaders defeated the aforementioned Ice Dogs by a score of 3-2 on Nov. 12. The locals then beat the Wingham Ironmen on Nov. 17 by a score of 3-1 to keep their Silver Stick dreams alive.
The next night, the Crusaders would beat the Saugeen Shores Storm D team by a score of 3-2, earning them a place in Sunday’s semi-final round.
Also in Silver Stick action, but in South Huron, were the U15 LL Crusaders, who opened their tournament on Nov. 17 with a loss to the South Huron Sabres Red team by a score of 3-1.
The next day, the team lost to the Mid-Huron Huskies 2 team by a score of 2-1, followed by a third and final loss to the North Middlesex Stars by a score of 2-0.
The U11 LL team didn’t have much success as members travelled to Seaforth for the annual Bill Carnochan Memorial Tournament. They opened play on Friday, Nov. 17 with a 9-0 loss to the Mid-Huron Huskies 2 teams, followed by a 6-4 loss to the Goderich Sailors.
The team would then lose to the South Huron Sabres by a score of 9-0 on Nov. 18, followed by a 6-0 loss at the hands of the Mid-Huron Huskies 1 team to end their tournament in Seaforth.
In regular season play that day, the U11 Rep Crusaders lost to the Saugeen Shores Storm D team on the road by a score of 4-1 on Nov. 19. Also that day, the U9 MD team welcomed the Listowel Cyclones MD team to Blyth and the U7 White team played the Mitchell Meteors on the road, but scores were not kept for those games.
On Nov. 18, the U11 Rep Crusaders were on the road to play the Shallow Lake Lakers, but lost by a score of 11-2, while the U13 LL team lost to the Kincardine Kinucks MicroAge team on the road by a score of 8-4.
The U21 team hosted the Arthur Vipers in Blyth that night, but the game ended in a 2-2 tie.
Also that day, the U7 Burgundy team was in Howick to play the Hornets, the U7 Black and White teams hosted two Wingham Ironmen teams in Blyth and the U8 Black and Burgundy teams were on the road for a pair of games with South Bruce teams and the U9 LL team played the Cyclones in Listowel, but scores for those games were not available at press time.
On Nov. 15, the U15 LL Crusaders beat the Mitchell Meteors by a score of 4-1, while the U13 LL team played the Central Perth Predators, both in Blyth, but a score for that game was unavailable at press time.
On Nov. 14, the U13 Rep team lost to the Mid-Huron Huskies in Clinton by a score of 11-1, while the U13 LL team was due to play the Huron-Bruce Blizzard in Brussels, but that game was cancelled.
On Nov. 13, the U15 Rep team beat the Mid-Huron Huskies D team in Blyth by a score of 5-2.
On Nov. 20, the U15 Rep team played the Wingham Ironmen and the U18 LL team played the Mitchell Meteors, both in Blyth, but scores for those games were unavailable at press time.
The next night, the U13 Rep team welcomed the Saugeen Shores Storm to Brussels, but a score for that game was unavailable at press time.
On Nov. 22, the U11 Rep and U13 Rep Crusaders were both on the road to play the Central Perth Predators and the Listowel Cyclones, respectively, but scores for those games were unavailable at press time.
Looking ahead, on Nov. 24, the U11 LL team will welcome the Wingham Ironmen Yellow team to Brussels, while the U15 Rep team will be on the road to play the Mitchell Meteors D team.
On Nov. 25, the U7 White team will play the Howick Hornets on the road, while the U8 Black and Burgundy teams will play two Goderich Sailors teams on the road. The U7 Black and Burgundy teams will host two Zurich Thunder teams in Blyth and the U13 LL team will welcome the Mitchell Meteors to Brussels, the U18 Rep team will host the Minto Mad Dogs in Brussels and the U21 team will also play the Minto Mad Dogs, this time in Blyth.
On Sunday, Nov. 26, the U11 LL team will be in Drayton to play the Defenders, while the U8 Black and Burgundy teams will host two Goderich Sailors teams in Blyth and the U11 Rep team will be on the road to play the Drayton Defenders D2 team.
On Monday, Nov. 27, the U11 Rep Crusaders will begin their Wingham Silver Stick Tournament journey in the C Division with a game against Georgian Shores, followed by a Nov. 29 game with the Walkerton Capitals.
In regular season action scheduled for Nov. 27, the U15 LL team will be on the road to play the Drayton Defenders and the U18 Rep team will be in Walkerton for a game with the Capitals.
On Nov. 28, the U11 LL team will be in Listowel to play the Cyclones 2 team and the U13 Rep team will welcome the Kincardine Kinucks to Brussels.
The U13 LL team will host the Mid-Huron Huskies 2 team in Blyth on Nov. 29, while the U15 Rep team will be on the road to play the Mid-Huron Huskies D team in Hensall.
Then, on Friday, Dec. 1, the U21 team will begin its quest for Silver Stick Tournament gold in Lucknow with a game against Central Perth, followed by a game the next day with the Shallow Lake Lakers, followed by a contest with Tavistock later that day.