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posted 01/17/2010 Greensboro Stars Midget U16 Win Silver Sticks in Columbia
2009-12-04
Over the Thanksgiving Holiday, GYHA sent 5 travel teams to compete at the prestigious Silver sticks regional qualifier in Columbia, Maryland. All teams faced tough competition throughout their first 3 games. With a few close calls, 3 teams advanced into the semi finals...
The Bantams had a 2-0-0 record going into their 3rd game and lost knocking them out of the playoffs. The U18 Team, playing with a short bench, had a 1-0-1 record and losing the 3rd game did not give them enough points to move on. Both teams played hard and each had successes, unfortunately neither could gain the points needed to play another day. The Squirt, PeeWee and Midget U16 teams faced teams on Sunday morning with both the Squirt and the U16 teams advancing into the finals in their division. The PeeWee team lost a tough game against the Nova Ice Dogs 3-1.
The Squirts faced off against the Westchester Vipers and late in the 3rd the game was 2-1 Vipers, in an attempt to tie, Greensboro pulled their goalie and had a few chances but the Vipers gained control of the puck to make the score 3-1. It was an exciting finish for both teams as they both advance to Sarnia, Ontario in late January.
The Midget U16 Team came into the tournament with a goal of avenging the previous two years losses in the Championship game, last year’s thriller went into a long shootout with Greensboro losing a heartbreaking game. This year’s team led by second year Captain TJ Rich had 4 players on the team who remembered last year all too well. The first game against Hampton Roads started slow but into the second period Greensboro pulled away and never looked back winning 5-1. The next morning we faced the Virginia Wild team in a tough game where both goalies made tremendous saves, after a scoreless 1st period, both teams scored in the second making it 1-1. A shortened 3rd period ended in a 2-1 loss for Greensboro. Not to be reminded of last year the team quickly rallied and faced an undefeated Howard Huskies team. The first period ended 0-0, and in the 2nd Howard scored, making it 1-0. Greensboro stepped up and scored four 2nd period goals, letting Howard know they were just getting started. The defense limited Howard to 15 shots in the entire game, out shooting them 34-15. In the 3rd period Greensboro turned it up again, and scored 5 goals relentlessly attacking in the offensive end. The result was another team victory, 9-2, making Greensboro the #1 seed in their division and having to face the Richmond Royals in the semi final game.
On Sunday morning the team again asserted themselves as the team to beat, against the Royals and by great play on both ends of the ice, at the end of the 1st, the score was Greensboro 1-0. Greensboro came out and scored 2 unanswered goals in the 2nd making it 3-0 going into the 3rd. Greensboro played to win never letting up, scored another goal in the 3rd to seal the game with a victory 4-0. Greensboro out shot the Royals 27-7 and with strong play again in the offensive zone, quick clears by the defense and great goal tending, again proved too much for the Royals.
On to the championship game against the Hershey Bears, a big team who was undefeated coming into the game. Both teams started strong off the face off and both teams suffered penalties in the first, Greensboro moved ahead 2-1, going into the 2nd. A well played 2nd period ended with 2 more goals making it 4-1 Greensboro. The team could sense the victory going into the 3rd but wanted to take no chances as both teams continued to put up penalties creating opportunities for both teams. Both team’s goalies stood tall in the net and made fantastic saves. Greensboro got a goal making it 5-1 with 8 minutes left, the Bears answered with a breakaway goal, making it 5-2 with 4 minutes left. The parents held their collective breath as we watched Greensboro roll through their lines and clear the puck quickly and create scoring opportunities. With strong play by all 3 forward lines, some great blue line coverage by the defense and goaltending, Greensboro once again turned up the pressure and made sure the Bears stayed on defense and gave them no sign of hope. Two minutes left in the game, Greensboro scored and you could almost see the Bears realized their time had just run out. Greensboro never gave up and never slowed down as time ticked away to a well deserved, well played victory and a chance to compete in Newmarket, Ontario in mid January. Great job Stars!!
