The Team Micks Orillia U18 Terriers went undefeated in five games this weekend to capture the Midland Regional Silver Stick Tournament title.
The tournament started Friday morning with Orillia playing host Midland. Orillia started strong with a goal after Cal Murphy converted a nice feed from Jonah Teahen. The squad then went up 2-0 when Kevin Demules one-timed a behind-the-net pass from Whyatt Winkel.
Orillia then tried to sit on that lead and the host team came back in waves as Orillia continued accumulating penalties. Midland tied the game 2-2 and then thanks to some superior goaltending from Sam Neely on a late penalty kill, the Terriers were able to hold on for a 2-2 tie.
Orillia faced the TNT Tornadoes in their second game; TNT was also coming off a game 1 tie. Orillia played a complete game, overwhelming the Alliston-based team and skating to a 5-1 win.
Goals were scored by Teahen (2), Sam Reda, Demules and Whyatt Winkel. Assists went to Zach Cippola (2), Brock Muise, Jhett Winkel, Murphy and Teahen.
Game 3 was a must-win for the Team Micks Terriers to advance. Their opponent was the Wawa Legionnaires who had tied both of their previous games.
Orillia came out confident and the northern Ontario team had no answer for the Orillia speed. In the end, Orillia earned an 8-2 win, advancing Orillia to the Sunday semi-finals.Goals were scored by Murphy (2), Ty Snellman, Owen Palaro, Brock Jeffels, Connor Flannery, Colson Maracle and Demules. Assists went to Teahen (3), Flannery, Muise, J. Winkel, Maracle and Demules.
Orillia then faced the Elmira/Woolwich Sugar Kings, who came in the tournament ranked No. 1 in Ontario. Orillia was unfazed and matched the Kings chance for chance until Demules popped out of the penalty box and was hit by a great pass from Teahen for a break away; Demules deked out the goalie for a 1-0 lead.
Shortly later, Murphy slammed home a Jeffels rebound to give Orillia a 2-0 lead. After a Kings power play tally brought them within a goal, Snellman blasted home a feed from Demules to re-instate the two-goal lead.
Orillia played stellar defence in the final minutes to hang on for the 3-1 win. Player of the game honours was a unanimous choice as Tucker Northcott played an unbelievable game in net for the Terriers making many great saves including stopping four breakaways and five quality shots in the last minute .
The win advanced Orillia to the championship game against the host Midland team who upset Burlington in their semi finals.
Orillia dominated most aspects of the final game and quieted the local hometown crowd with goalies early and often. Sam Neely made some timely saves when needed to keep the host squad at bay. Orillia won the game 5-2 in then end, out-shooting the Midland squad 28-13. Player of the game was Maracle with two goals and one assist. Other tallies came from Reda, Maracle and Murphy. Assists were tallied by Cam Carrurthers, Carter Balkwill, W. Winkel, Flannery and Reda.
The win advances the Orillia team to the prestigious invite-only International Silver Stick Finals to be held in mid-January in Sarnia against other qualifying tournament winners from around North America.
Next up for the local team is three home games this week where the Terriers will look to improve on their third place standing in the York Simcoe League.
