The U18LL Highland Storm made an impression at the Silver Stick regional tournament held in Haliburton Dec. 16. For some players, it was the final Silver Stick appearance of their minor hockey career.
The team took to the ice early Saturday, taking on the Apsley Flames. The dressing room was abuzz with positive vibes as the players geared up for their first game of the tournament. The Storm were at it right from puck drop, putting in lots of effort. While it was one of the team’s best games of the season, with 100 per cent effort given by all players from buzzer to buzzer, they came up just short.
As the day went on all players maintained a positive attitude. Game two was a match-up with the Lakefield Chiefs. The home side came out buzzing, scoring two quickfire goals in the first period through Haiden Bird and Austin Latanville. The gameplay was fast and furious, with Storm goalie, Carson Simms, keeping his team in the game.
The Storm went into the third period down by one, but found a way back into the game early through Latanville – a slapshot from the point finding its way past the Chiefs goalie to tie the game at three. Despite an intense effort in the final frame, the Storm found themselves on the wrong side of the scoreboard at the final buzzer.
The team played in one final game, a 4 p.m. tilt against the Collingwood Jr. Blues.
Even though the tournament may not have gone the way the team hoped, head coach Dallas Latanville said he was extremely proud of his players for their effort and never give up attitude.
The U18LL squad has two more tournaments coming up and will be pushing for a playoff spot in the new year. Go Storm go.
