The Novice Bruins captured the Gold Medal in the Hamilton City Play downs this past weekend at Dave Andreychuk Mountain
Arena.
The Novice Bruins captured the Gold Medal in the Hamilton City Play downs this past weekend at the Dave Andreychuk Mountain Arena.
The Ancaster Bruins, fresh off their AMHL title moved on to the Recreational House League (RHL) City play down tournament which ran from March 20th to March 26th, 2016. The Bruins opened the tournament versus the Dofasco Rangers on March 20th at Rosedale Arena; the Rangers scored on the opening shift, which proved to be the spark to fire up Bruins who then responded with 5 unanswered goals to win going away 7-3. As the case all season, the deep and fast Bruins got scoring from all three lines as Ilija K, Matteo V (two), Luka S, Cameron W, Paulo S, and Michael B rounded out the scoring.
Up next was the Dundas Champion; the Bruins scored on their first shift and cruised to a 12-2 victory at Chedoke Arena. Once again the scoring was evenly distributed and the Bruins depth was on display with goals from Matteo V (two), Michael B (four), Paolo S (two), Ilija K, Spencer R, Luka S and Tyler D.
The win over Dundas set up a showdown with the powerful Chedoke Kings at Lawfield Arena with a birth in the City Championship on the line. The mighty Bruins were ready for their toughest opponent to date; a Chedoke Kings team that had only been beaten once all season. A near capacity crowd witnessed a back and forth game that feature glove hand saves, break away stops, back checking and a level of intensity rarely seen from such young players. These two teams were well coached and ready to compete from the opening face-off. Michael B opened the scoring with a goal on a breakaway early in the first period; the Kings answered right away before Michael B added another to put the Bruins up 2-1 at the end of the first period.
Tyler D scored a classic hardworking goal as he pounced on a rebound and snapped it home to put the Bruins up 3-1 midway through the 2nd period. Once again the Kings answered to make it 3-2 setting the stage for a 3rd period for the ages. Michael B completed the hat trick before Luka S put the Bruins up 5-2; the game would finish 5-3 after a late Kings goal.
Even though Michael B had a hat trick, the first star of the game was the Bruins tendy, Aiden S. Aiden set the tone early with and amazing glove save on the opening shift; Aiden S stopped the talented Kings on numerous break aways and goal mouth scrambles to keep the game under control for the Bruins. Aiden S proved that he was among the best Novice goalies in Hamilton as he shut the door time and time again.
At Dave Andreychuk Mountain Arena on Saturday March 26th, the Stoney Creek Blackhawks were ready and waiting for the mighty Bruins. The Bruins, looking to follow in the footsteps of the 2014/ 2015 Ancaster Penguins and capture City Gold came ready to play. Friends and family crammed in the stands and the arena was rockin as Paulo S got the Bruins going early before Michael B took over, completing a hat trick when the lights were the brightest and the pressure was on. In a game in which the Bruins never trailed, Aiden S stood strong in goal to back stop the Bruins to the Gold. This win was a complete team effort, showing a commitment to team defence that suffocated opponents as some of the best shooters in Hamilton were held in check the entire tournament.
The 2015-2016 Ancaster Bruins completed the season with an overall record of 28-2-2; winning Gold three times; the 2015-2016 Jerry Smith Memorial Tournament Champions, AMHL Champions and the Hamilton RHL City Champions. Congratulations to all of the players, parents and coaches on a magical season and good luck to the players in try-outs starting next month!
