The Gary Edgecombe CA Peewee Rep Coyotes started November with
five games in three days at the Huntsville Tournament. They played
well enough to earn a berth in the finals on Sunday, November 3.
Unfortunately, they lost the final to the South Muskoka Bears 3-1.
On Friday, November 1, after a one hour delay due to a major wind storm power failure, the Coyotes began their tournament with a game against the South Muskoka Bears, a recent hockey amalgamation of Gravenhurst and Bracebridge. The Coyotes scored early and kept the Bears off the scoreboard for the first two periods. In the third, confusion in the face-off circle, left of our net, led to a quick tying goal for the Bears. Late penalty trouble left the tired looking Coyotes vulnerable, and with 30 seconds left in the game, the Bears scored to win the game, 2-1.
A well-rested Coyote team faced Niagara on the Lake on Saturday, November 2. Two first period goals put the Coyotes in the hole, but not being ready to give up, the Coyotes fought back with two goals of their own in the second. In the third, Carter Crowder and his line-mates scored the winning goal. The game ended 3-2.
Two hours later, the Coyotes took the ice to battle local rival, the Wasaga Stars. This defensive battle saw no scoring in the first, one goal for the Coyotes in the second, and no scoring in the third. William McDowell earned the shutout.
The Coyotes watched the last tournament game between Parry Sound and Sault Ste. Marie as the result would determine the wild card winner. Parry Sound won, but the Sault had earned the same amount of points as Elmvale. The wild card went to the Coyotes based on having fewer penalty minutes. Evidently, good behaviour does pay off.
The semi-final game saw the Coyotes battle the Parry Sound Shamrocks on Sunday, November 3. The Shamrocks drew blood in the first, but the rest of the battle belonged to the Coyotes. The game ended 5-1 and the Coyotes had earned a chance to face the South Muskoka Bears for the championship.
Surprising all the Elmvale parents present, the Coyotes scored in the first minute of play. The Bears evened the score in the second on a power play. After 50 minutes of hockey in less than two hours, the Coyotes started to show fatigue. Long shifts and penalty trouble created productive chances for the Bears. By the final buzzer, the Bears had scored two more, winning the game 3-1.
The Coyotes were disappointed with second place, but given some time to reflect, they should be pleased with their accomplishment. If anything, they should have a better sense of what it is going to take to be number one - sustained effort and a hunger from the whole team.
The Coyotes welcome the Midland Centennials on Wednesday, November 6, and the Wasaga Stars to on Friday, November 8. Come on out for some great hockey action.