The #1 Autobody PeeWee A Tyees traveled to Parksville for the 1st Annual Oceanside PeeWee Rep Winter Classic Tournament Dec. 19-21.
While the Tyees got off to a bit of a rough start, they persevered and in the end prevailed as champions.
The Tyees ventured to Parksville in slushy conditions for their first game on the Monday against the Port Alberni Bulldogs. The Bulldogs scored the first three goals in the opening half of the game, after a slow Tyees start. The Bulldogs prevailed 5-2.
Game two vs. Saanich took place later in the day and finished 4-2. Great passing was the key to the Tyees success in this game and as well Goalie Tanner Ferrill came up with a number of impressive saves. Plecas was named game MVP for his offensive input as well as dynamic skating. Ferrill received the Heart and Hustle honors for his determination and hard work in net.
The third game took place on the Tuesday morning when the Tyees faced the Oceanside Generals. With 2:43 left on the clock and some effective cycling down low, Kye Benoche walked out from behind the net and sniped a beautiful shot top corner to put the Tyees up 3-2. This would be the final score.
Tuesday afternoon’s game against the Powell River Kings was a must win for the Tyees squad in order for them to move on to the Finals. The score was tied 1-1 at the end of the second frame. Carter Banman buried the go-ahead goal in the third. In the tense dying seconds, the Tyees sealed the deal by shooting the puck into the empty net. 3-1 was the final score.
The Tyees advanced to the final game Wednesday afternoon with a rematch against the Port Alberni Bulldogs. Ryan Deagle would open the scoring with a low bullet along the ice after nice passes from Ryder Plecas and Ian Mills. Tyson Olsen did a great job dumping the puck on the penalty kill and Braydon Myles worked hard to clear the puck in front of the net. The score would remain 1-0 until halfway through the third in this defensive battle. With 7:42 left on the clock, Breydan Riecker intercepted a clearing attempt along the boards and walked in to make a nice pass to Tristan Granter who put it in short side. Ferrill made some key saves with a spectacular effort in goal. Mills and Wyatt Aarts worked hard to clear the net but some major penalty trouble late in the third led to two goals and this unfortunately created a need for overtime.
The extra five minutes solved nothing so the game would move into a shootout. Five players per team took shots in the first round and while Wyatt Murray and Riecker came up with goals, so did two of the Bulldog players. This warranted a sudden death shootout. After the opposition scored first, the crowd waited to see what Brendon Burnside would do and he did not disappoint with a beauty shot. The next shooters for each team would miss and so did the eighth shooter from Port Alberni when Plecas finally ended the game, putting the puck between the pipes and getting mobbed by his teammates – 3-2 was the final.
Deagle was named MVP for his two way game while Burnside was given the Heart and Hustle award for scoring his clutch shoot out goal under tremendous pressure.