Now That’s the Jr. Summits I Know

Saturday proved to me that our Jr. Summits are indeed the great team I thought we were. We played the Santa Rosa Flyers in our first game and it was just as exciting as the game we played against them in the San Jose Regional finals. It was a 0-0 game all the way until the third period. Our team played with inspiration and skill. They controlled the puck well, passed well, played solid defense, and worked hard for the whole game.

In the third, hard work paid off when our first line: Cy Jenson, Wyatt Spence, and Elijah Assam freed the puck from a scramble behind the Flyers net and got a shot on goal (just one of many placed upon the very solid Flyers goalie). That shot was saved, but a patient move by Wyatt afforded him the game winning goal.  That goal was solidified in the last few minutes of the game when Cy put another one past their net minder. This was all backed up by another shut out by goalie Paiute Morrison, including a two man break away late in the third period! Paiute’s stellar performance earned him the game MVP medal.

In our second game, we faced the Oakland Bears, a team we beat in San Jose in two games including the semi finals. They played hard and tested our resolve to win, but in the end we prevailed. We had a strong showing from our third line who scored 2 goals in our 5-3 victory. Obviously the difference in the game, these goals were the result of hard work around the net.

Chase Courtney gathered the garbage and deposited it in the back of the net to score his first Pee Wee tournament goal. Jasper Weatherby found his second tournament goal in the front of the net on clean up patrol as well. Jasper also performed well in the face off circle winning many of his duels, even against their first line center. Jasper was the winner of the game MVP as a result of his hard work and strong play in the face off circle and around the ice.  (Check out the great picture below with the puck catching mesh!)

It was wonderful to see the team playing with the skill and patience they have been known for once again. I look forward to their continued efforts today and hopefully tomorrow in the finals!