This past weekend the Quick Feet Minor Novice team headed South and into the Lion's Den for their first taste of Toronto hockey.
What an experience!
The weekend started with an afternoon matinee. No rest for the wicked - drive down get to the rink and get ready to play. After a long drive down, heading to the rink seeing the amount of parents and players milling around, it was tough to get the feet moving in the right direction and with speed. However as the game progressed the Quick Feet players gradually found some rhythm and gave a pretty good effort. Goalie Stanley C. was outstanding - flashing the leather and making timely saves.
Then late in the third of the first game, some excitement arose... Some might say it was the highlight of the tournament. Power forward Tucker M. grabbed the puck, broke wide and drive to the net only to get hauled down by a surprised CHA d-man. Penalty Shot! Oh Boy Hold on to your seats! With the poise of a 20 year NHL veteran, Tucker M. takes the puck fakes once and drills one over the shoulder for the first Quick Feet goal of the tournament. Glad someone knew how to work the video app on their phone so we have it on tape!
As the tournament progressed, the QF players began to gel and become a team. Because of this the play began to get better and better. I have to mention this team has been on the ice together for only 2 practices and 1 game prior to heading down to the tournament. They came together so well that one spectator couldn't believe this team hadn't played all year together.
All players had flashes of brilliance - from Tucker M's highlight penalty shot, Emerson S's bullet bar down blast to the unselfish play of Elliot C. where he tried not once but twice to dish the puck to Brodie F. on a 2 on 1 and only to find it go off the defenseman's skates and in the net, to the exciting end to end rushes from Grayson B. and Riley A. on the back end, everyone came together and played like a veteran team. The tenacious checking of Olivia (Wheels) S. the never quit effort in both ends of Gryphon B and Holden C. and Max M., the steady play of Brodie F and Maddie H - finding openings and getting shots to the net. The pinching and standing up for his teammates of Will B., and Luke S., to the consistent battling of Hudson I., always getting in the way and stirring up trouble to the magnificent highlight reel glove saves and quick footedness of Stanley C. - this really was alot of fun to watch.
Off the ice, this team was almost as fun to watch as on the ice. Tag, pool, they played together like they have all been friends for years. As for the "older" kids... with team building exercises of fishbowl beverages, hands behind the back drinks, heading up the stairs at the arena eyes watering due to the stench of Axe spray in the air, Paul Blart, tailgates as well as the occasional afternoon siesta between games, mini sticks, lots of fun and a ton of laughter was had by everyone.
Heck. We even took care of some poor soul who needed a ride in a chair with wheels...
Was a great weekend of great hockey and a new team of players and parents who in a short time came together both on and off the ice.
That was the highlight of this tournament.
That and the fact that the QF Novice team took third place in their first tournament together!
Great showing and now let's get ready for the next one!
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