Atoms advance to OMHA finals

In a thrilling overtime victory, the Atom AA Tornados, sponsored by Trailwood Transport, are going back to the OMHA finals. TNT defeated Whitby to take the series 3 games to 1.

The semis started in Whitby over a week ago, with TNT facing the same opponents as they did a year before. The game was marred by some terrible ice that impacted both teams performance. Whitby prevailed in this one 4-3 with 30 seconds to go. The teams this game were figuring each other out that is for sure.

Taylor Beckstead scored our first goal after Jack Birkett stole the puck and shot, and Beckstead was there for a rebound goal. Returning the favor, Beckstead hit Birkett and he scored short side. Ashford McCague on a nice solo effort had tied the game late in the 3rd after stealing the puck from the Whitby D. Alas Whitby scored with 30 seconds to go to take game 1, 4-3. Same as last year.

Back home, TNT was fired up for game 2. They came out flying and dominated this game from the opening whistle. Whitby only managed 5 shots the whole game. But no victory in hockey is won without a solid team effort and this is what TNT brought. In the 1st, it was Birkett who spotted Kieron Fida at the point. Fida let it rip and Mark Blowes who was in perfect position, tipped the puck in for a 1-0 lead. This is all TNT would really need. They unleashed a tenacious forecheck onto Whitby that they could not break through.

The defense of Fida, Adrian Kruck, Brody Horan and Bailey Matson simply would not allow any decent scoring chances to their opponents. Horan was as solid as you can get in the game, and Kruck continues to move the puck with ease. Up 1-0 in the 3rd and on the power play, Kruck hits Birkett who fed Beckstead for the breakaway and a 2-0 lead that would hold up for the rest of the game. Series tied 1-1.

Not wanting to be outdone by the Gold Medal game, TNT back in Whitby on Sunday rewarded those who couldn't see the game with a solid, dominating effort in game 3. Everyone contributed in this game and it was the first real test for the "Protector of the Parted Pipes," Jacob Brayford. The unit of Matthew Wadge, Preston Kopp and Dylan Pehlemann had a particularly great game, especially in the 1st where they generated numerous scoring chances and quite frankly, were pains in the butts to their opponents.

After a scoreless 1st, Fida, on a clearing pass hit Blowes who outskated the defense and buried it low far side for a 1-0 lead. The penalty kill took over on this game as TNT was faced with having to kill off two 5 on 3 advantages for Whtiby. Brayford during this stretch was unbeatable, and made some spectacular saves to stymie the opponents. At the end of the second 5 on 3, with another man on, Daniel Berek cut through the D and scored shorthanded on a great unassisted effort. Whitby scored with 1 second in the game to make the final 2-1 Tornados.

Game 4 would be held on the big rink in Alliston. The large crowd was as nervous as a PEI airport security officer waiting for a VIP, but was energetic nonetheless.

Whitby came out absolutely flying, but TNT managed to hang on with a 0-0 tie after 1. Whitby was all over TNT in the second and got out to a 2-0 lead. If not for the stellar work of Jiggy in the pipes it could have been more.

But TNT started to battle back. Jake Barker gets the puck in deep and fires the puck and the rebound goes right to Beckstead standing at the goal mouth to cut the lead to 2-1. With 3 minutes to go in the second, a scary moment when Wadge was dumped in the offensive zone and was injured. With both teams in the room, while Wadge was being attended to, it gave TNT a chance to regroup, and that is what they did. On the power play from the Wadge injury, Beatle Bailey Matson, let one rip from the point that the tied the game at 2. Birkett and Horan assisted, and the goalie was so well screened he didn't stand a chance. Both teams continued to battle hard and exchanged scoring chances.

Regulation didn't solve anything and it was off to overtime. It was clear that TNT wanted it more and was more accustomed to playing in OT. McCague and Barker were quite effective and nasty during this stretch. Berek was on fire as well. Blowes had a chance to end it, but missed just wide.

Then Whitby broke through the D and had a clear shot, but as usual Jiggy was there to make not only a poke check but stuck the pad out on the rebound. This was his best game of the series. With time winding down and in the Whitby zone, Birkett, as he did all night won the draw, back to Kruck, at the point. Kruck then spots Beckstead who made no mistake and buried a beauty upstairs to end the series. The place goes nuts, and it is off to get some traditional root beer.

TNT now moves on the OMHA finals for the second year in a row and they await the winner of Oakville and Burlington. Winner of this series is off to the OHF finals in Timmins in April. This was a solid series for the team.

BRIWAY to advance to the OMHA Finals

The BRIWAY Carriers Minor Atom AE were @ the Ice Palace for Playoff Game #4 vs. the Georgina Blaze on Wed. Mar. 3rd @7:00pm. Both teams were pumped and ready to compete for this Game. Connor Wiley started in goal for TNT and made some beautiful glove saves until the Blaze opened the scoring on a power play.

Georgina was facing elimination and followed that with a second goal to go up 2-0. The game looked to be a blowout until Austin Russell put his team up on the board assisted by Kyle Heydon and Emma Foerster. TNT was being outplayed by the Blaze with numerous chances and great forechecking.

That's when Heydon scored on a pass from Russell and Brody Real to tie the game @ 2-2. Quinn Big Canoe was spectacular in stopping the Georgina forwards in the 3rd period. Darcy Tainsh and Riley Jones were solid on defence for the Tornados.

The Georgina Blaze staved off elimination with a 3-2 victory and tied the Series @ 2-2 of the OMHA Semi-Finals.

On Sat. Mar. 6th, TNT was back on home ice for the deciding Game 5 @ 1:00pm vs. the Georgina Blaze.

Kyle Heydon and Austin Russell combined at the end of the 1st period to fire at the goalie and Heydon jumped on the rebound to get the 1st goal of this all important game. Then Heydon made the score 2-0 on another rebound assisted by Russell.

TNT had the home crowd advantage and didn't want to disappoint anyone as seen by their good backchecking and nice breakout passes. Quinn Big Canoe was playing for all the marbles stopping the Blaze on every occasion. Zachary Berek went in with fresh legs on a pass from Kurt Watson and fired the 3rd goal over the shoulder of the Georgina netminder.

That really took a lot of steam out of the Blaze but they kept coming as they scrambled to score and cut the Tornados lead at 3-1 with 2 minutes left. Connor Wiley saved the game in the 3rd period with great pad saves as the Blaze were shooting from all angles and even rattled one off the post at one point!

The Blaze goalie was pulled for an extra attacker but TNT's Heydon grabbed the loose puck and stickhandled and fought his way through the defence to bang home a perfect shot in the empty net completing the Hat trick assisted by Brody Real and Emma Foerster as TNT eliminated Georgina.

TNT will move on to the OMHA Finals against the Oakville Rangers for the Samuel Brereton Memorial Trophy.

Peewee AA run ends at home

TNT Major Peewee's, sponsored by Pampered Pet Lodge, ended their quest for a berth in the OMHA finals with a tough loss to Kingston Sunday in Alliston, 4-2. The series required all five games to settle.