With only two exhibition games under their belt, the 2000 Top Guns headed to Edmonton for the Alberta Champions Cup to prove that they were contenders and to prove that the practice time since early Jan/08 was plenty enough to gel as a team.
The first game on Friday was against the Sask Grrrowl, our team came out full of energy and defeated the opposition 11-1. Michael Hodge and Peyton Krebs netted a hat trick and singles came from Hoon Kim, Hunter Nelson, Louis Jamernik (and nicely setting up two of the goals) , Max Giangualano and Quinn Olson. And the defense was superb, limiting the shots on our goalie to 10 shots, but Davyn LaRocke was there when we needed him.
The second game on Friday was against a very tough Young Guns team from Surrey, BC. The team fought hard together but fell in defeat by a score of 9-2. Jarret Timmerman and Spencer Moe netted out goals. Our goalie Davyn LaRocke was very busy with 23 shots, that's a lot of work for sure. With a long day put in at the rink and the kids unphased by the loss, they played hard at the hotel and had a blast. The highlight of the day was our lunch at BPs between games, where the boys were nice and loud, laughing, running the waitresses off their feet and having lots of fun.
With a good nights sleep (ha ha) the boys came out for the early morning game on Saturday full of fury again, defeated the NAA Xtreme by a score of 7-5. This was a very close game with Davyn LaRocke making 18 awesome saves and the goals coming from Jarret Timmerman with a pair, and singles from Quinn Olson, Louis Jamernik, Kyle Braco (with a nice end to end rush), Michael Hodge and Max Giangualano. Peyton Krebs, Michael Hodge and Jonathan Tychonick added several helpers as well. The most exciting part of this game, and the TSN turning point as voted on by the parents, was the 2nd intermission pep talk by the coaches Lou Jamernik, Perry Giangualano, Kerry Tychonick and Tim LaRocke. It only took no more than a few minutes in the dressing room, but it certainly worked. After the 2nd period we were down 5-4 but bouncedback with three unanswered goals in the 3rd period to win the game. Just awesome say the parents.
The second game on Saturday was much different than the second game from the day prior, as we defeated CWH Quest by a score of 11-5. Jarret Timmerman netted a trick, Jonathan Tychonick and Spencer Moe netted a deuce, and loners came from Kyle Braco, Quinn Olson, Michael Hodge and Hoon Kim. Louis Jamernik had several nice assists as well. Davyn LaRocke was limited to 13 shots and the parents want to give a shout out to the opposing goalie, who got peppered with 36 shots. The kids hit the pool to unwind (ha ha) in the evening.
Sunday was a bit of a rush for the parents, with some confusion with game times but nonetheless we were on our way. We had finished second in our pool, just behind the Young Guns, and the cross-over semi final game was against a sharp looking Wolverines North squad. The kids came out like a team on a mission for the first two periods and gave the opposition very little opportunities, then settled back in the third to conserve some energy in a convincing 8-1 win. Spencer Moe netted three juicy shots, and singles were added by Max Giangualano, Kyle Braco, Jonathan Tychonick, Hunter Nelson and Jarret Timmerman. Hunter added a nice assist on one of Spencer's goals. Davyn LaRocke added 17 saves. With the kids playing five games already, the parents just could not believe the kids were ready and willing to put in one last push in the finals against an undefeated Sask-itoba Rangers. The wear and tear of a long weekend was showing, but the team united with one another and fought hard. The 1st period ended at 0-0 . The 2nd period gave some relief for the parents with three goals from Spencer Moe, Louis Jamernik and Max Giangualano and it ended 3-0. The third period had us 20 minutes from victory, but the opposition came back with two goals. The parents were a wreck. The coaches had no voices left. The kids were riding on empty…BUT they pulled off a 3-2 victory. We were victorious. The kids were ecstatic! The most exciting part of this game was the play of our goalie Davyn LaRocke, with so many highlight reel saves. Just amazing.
In summary, the parents are over the moon proud of their kids and the coaches are just as proud for playing like a team. There is no 'I' in team. We win together, we lose together…but for now we win.
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