The Steve Richey Memorial Tournament of Champions took place from Jan. 19 – 22, with 20 teams taking part in the U16 age bracket. Four divisions of five teams were divided into round-robin matches before playoff seeding was determined. The Central Ontario Wolves took advantage of timely scoring, tight defense and near-perfect goaltending en route to a 6-0-0 run.
The Wolves were placed in the Foster Division, along with the Windsor Jr. Spitfires, Guelph Jr. Gryphons, Richmond Hill Coyotes and Oakville Rangers. After kicking off the tournament with a 5-3 victory over Guelph, they rattled off three more wins to end the round robin 4-0-0. Setting the stage for a playoff opener against No. 7 London Jr. Knights, who ended up atop the Hayton Division at 4-0-0.
In a spirited affair, both sides would trade goals before regulation ended in a 4-4 tie. Overtime was required to determine a winner. Carson Cameron netted his second goal of the game in the extra frame, pushing the Wolves into the championship game against No. 24 Peterborough Petes.
Blazing a solid trail of their own, the Petes reached the playoff stages after defeating all of their opponents in the Riley Stillman Division. Josh Avery’s two goals propelled Peterborough over the No. 22 Southern Tier Admirals 3-1.
While many expected a high-scoring, goal extravaganza in the championship matchup, proceedings were much more subdued. The first two periods would be all about the goalies, with the Petes’ Masen Johnston and Ontario’s Nathan Hunter trading save after save. It wasn’t until Van Pereira netted his second goal of the tournament in the third period that would give the Wolves the advantage they needed to secure the win.
Pereira’s goal might have been the biggest of the entire tournament for Ontario. However, most of the heavy lifting offensively was done by Seth Goble (4G, 7A), James McMurray (2G, 6A) and Francis Parish (4G, 4A).
Not enough can be said about the dependability of Nathan Hunter and Madison Campbell between the pipes for Central Ontario. Both were integral pieces of the club’s championship run, shutting down powerhouse attacks from some of the best ranked teams in the World Rankings.
Suiting up in five games, Hunter only had nine pucks get past him, garnering a 2.39 goals-against average with two shutouts. Campbell only saw action in one game, a 6-1 victory against Oakville. From that one appearance, he collected a 1.33 goals-against average.
Together the duo combined with the strong defense in front of them to achieve the second-best goal differential of any club in their age group, plus-20. The Wolves only allowed 10 goals total across six games.
The Steve Richey Tournament also had a U18 bracket of 33 teams split among eight divisions. Backstopped by goaltender Colby Booth-Housego, the Waterloo Wolves emerged as champions after a 4-2 defeat of the Ajax-Pickering Raiders.
Across six games — including the final bout — Booth-Housego compiled a 1.30 goals-against average with one shutout. He was also named tournament MVP. While Booth-Housego was stopping pucks, Joe Brehmer and Isaaz Lorentz were taking on the duties of filling them. Brehmer’s five goals and eight points led the Wolves, with Lorentz’s four goals and seven points just behind. Lorentz nabbed his final goal to secure the victory over the Raiders late in the third period.
Charlie Hilton of the Oshawa Generals led all U18 skaters with five goals and 10 points.
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Each week, World Hockey Hub highlights a few of the most exciting upcoming games in youth hockey.
Two of the top 2009-born teams in Sweden kick off our slate of games to watch this week. Djurgårdens IF battles Södertälje SK on Thursday in a Top-10 tilt. Mississauga Rebels and Toronto Jr. Canadiens tangle in a Top-10 matchup between 2007s in Canada. The week concludes with a weekend series between Chicago Mission and Shattuck-St. Mary’s. Then, a clash in Finland between Kärpät Musta and Kärpät Valkoinen.
After suffering a 6-0 defeat to No. 3 Djurgårdens IF (26-12-7) on Dec. 1, No. 5 Södertälje SK (13-5-6) now has plans for avenging that loss when the two 2008-born opponents meet this week.
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| Thursday, January 26 Scaniarinken |
In order to do so, however, the dynamic duo of Lexus Zahn (9G, 7A) and Nick Travergård (8G, 8A) will need to be stopped. Both players not only lead Djurgårdens in points, but sit atop their group table in scoring as well. They have been key catalysts to the team’s current eight-game unbeaten stretch.
In the 6-0 outing, Zahn and Travergård each collected three points, showing that they are the true play drivers for the club when it comes to offensive zone time. Patric Hellström and Lucas Brauer will have to step up for Södertälje if there is any chance of emerging victorious. Their dependable, two-way approach to the game has paid dividends, allowing them to record 10 and nine points, respectively.
Pete’s Pick: I don’t expect another blowout for Djurgårdens, but I do believe they will nab the win here for the second time against their group foe. I chalk that loss up to Södertälje still finding its footing as a team. Since then, they have put up numbers against the top Sweden teams.
Craig’s Pick: I’m a Zahn and Travergård fan here too. Södertälje comes out of the gate strong, and maybe even holds onto a lead early. However, Djurgårdens top tandem is too much to overcome. I’ll take DIF 4-2 in a close one.
No. 1 Shattuck-St. Mary’s (39-2-2) will wrap up their season series with No. 11 Chicago Mission (25-12-5) this weekend. It will be the second time the two squads will have battled in close to a week. On Jan. 20, Shattuck defeated Chicago 4-1.
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| Saturday, January 28 @ 4:10 PM CST Fifth Third Arena |
All games thus far have been tightly contested. With both programs occupying Top 10 spots in the U.S. for the majority of the season, no one was really expecting anything less. What will ultimately settle these final games will be the big blueliners of Chicago taking away space from Shattuck’s frightening attack. All six of Mission’s defensemen are either close to or over six feet, with three also weighing in at 170 lbs.
Granted, Shattuck will have a gameplan to work around this fact given the familiarity between both rosters. However, it does not make the feat of actually dealing with players of that size on the ice any easier.
Ryker Lee and Jack Galanek have been revelations for Shattuck, as they have collected 155 points between themselves. John Delaney was a standout for Chicago in the last two-game series, totaling three points (1G, 2A).
Pete’s Pick: These will be two more close games, with Mission wanting to prove they have what it takes to skate with the truly premier talent of their birth year. Despite being on home ice, which should give them some extra jump, I still think Shattuck skates away with two wins.
Craig’s Pick: I like Shattuck as well. They’re unbeaten in their last 27 outings, and winners of 19 of their last 20. Mission managed a 4-4 tie back in December, jumping out to a 4-0 lead before Shattuck rallied from behind. I don’t see Shattuck playing from a deficit again — at least not by four goals — so I’ll take the Sabres as winners in both games.
The No. 20 Mississauga Rebels (28-8-9) will try to finally get in the win column against the No. 9 Toronto Jr. Canadiens (34-8-3) in their third game of the season on Sunday.
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| Sunday, January 29 @ 2:15 PM EST Scotiabank Pond 4 |
After skating to a 2-2 tie in their first tilt back in October, the Jr. Canadiens bested the Rebels 5-3 on Dec. 17. Unbeaten in their last four outings, Mississauga will aim to end Toronto’s impressive 12 game unbeaten streak. While on paper this may be looking like a David versus Goliath meeting between two ‘07 programs, Mississauga has held their own against some Top 10 teams in Canada. A highlight of their season was edging out No. 1 Toronto Marlboros, 2-1 in the early weeks of the schedule.
Pete’s Pick: Mississauga has given some top teams headaches this season, and this game shouldn’t be any different. But talent-wise, the Jr. Canadiens hold a significant advantage, and they take this one 4-1.
Craig’s Pick: Jr. Canadiens are the better overall team, but Mississauga to me appears to be a more consistent bunch. You know what you’re going to get from this group on a nightly basis. Toronto can run a bit hot and cold, and may very well come out firing. However, I’m gonna take the Rebels’ consistent approach, as they catch the Jr. Canadiens on an off night. Rebs run 3-2 in this one.
With the continuation series well underway in the next stage of group play in Finland, two 2009 programs prepare to continue their season series. Currently up 2-1 after three games, No. 7 Kärpät Valkoinen (19-4-1) will hope to squash No. 9 Kärpät Musta’s (19-3-2) attempt to even the season series on Sunday.
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| Sunday, January 28 Raksila 2 |
It is a crucial time to be playing the best hockey of the season, and that is the case for these programs. Each is off to a 4-0-0 start in the continuation series of group play. All signs are pointing to fireworks when they clash.
Offense will be on full display in this meeting. At the end of the initial group stage, the two leading scorers hailed from these clubs. Musta’s Joona Väkeväinen totaled 27 goals and 49 points, with Valkoinen’s Niklas Helppi 31 goals and 44 points close behind. Both players have picked up where they left off just a few games into the next batch of group games. In two games, each player has recorded nine points. Kantola Leevi of Musta leads all skaters with 12 points.
Pete’s Pick: I’m inclined to go with Valkoinen here, but I think Leevi’s performance to begin the next stage of group play will get them over the hill and even the season series up. Musta takes a 3-2 final.
Craig’s Pick: I gotta imagine games like these are so exciting for Kärpät — and other clubs that divvy up players into multiple rosters — when you field two teams, and they’re uber competitive and evenly matched head-to-head. In the spirit of good competition, I like Musta to even the season series as well.
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