Minor Bantam & Minor Midgets Capture Gold at the Holiday Classic...
Written by Toronto Marlboros Hockey Club | 
| 
| 
 |
|
| Both the Minor Bantam team and the Minor Midget team survived a grueling five days and eight games of tournament play and were successful in their championship run; while the Bantam Marlies fought their way to the semi-finals only to be eliminated 2-0 in a heart-breaking game. After eliminating their toughest opponent of the tournament Detroit Honeybaked 6-3 in the semi-finals, the Blue & White were pitted against their GTHL rival Toronto Jr. Canadiens in an all Canadian final. The Canadiens reached the finals by eliminating another U.S. foe, St. Louis Blues 2-1 in the other semi-final. Marlies opened the scoring in the first period only to see the Canadiens even the score before the teams retired to the dressing rooms. The Marlboros scored the only goal of the second period and play began in the third period with the Marlboros holding a 2-1 edge. The final frame was a typical match-up between these two opponents with up and down play, great offensive and defensive efforts from both sides, and few penalties. Both teams managed to score one goal and in the end the Marlboros were victorious with a 3-2 victory. Congratulations to the players and staff and to Joseph Mizzi of the Marlies for being named Tournament MVP. The tournament saw the Minor Midgets advance undefeated in round-robin play before meeting more resistant opponents in the play-offs. However it appeared that the level of team play that was exhibited by the players, there would be no denying them. Predictions were correct. The team defeated a very formidable London Gold Jr. Knights team in their Conference Final 4-1, to advance to the Championship Game. In the other Conference, the outcome was less predictable as the Vaughan Kings and Mississauga Rebels, both of the GTHL were tied after regulation time. This perhaps was the most exciting game of the tournament as it went into the third period of overtime before the Kings scored to advance to the Grand Championship. Despite having some highly rated players for the OHL Priority Draft, the Kings were no match for the Marlboros. The home team scored five unanswered goals before the end of the 1st period and exchanged one goal in the 2nd period. This set the stage for what was anticipated as a hotly contested 3rd period. Although some tempers flared the Marlboros were not to be distracted and skated away with a rather easy 9-2 championship victory. The players and staff must be commended as this was the second tournament in less than a month that demonstrated the true abilities of each player when they skated cohesively. A special congratulations to Jeremiah Addison of the Marlboros who, with his four goal performance in the final and outstanding play throughout the tournament, was named the Tournament MVP. On a final note, the Holiday Classic has long been known as the most difficult tournament to win on the AAA circuit and the outstanding play throughout the five days by all the participants attested to that fact. Based on the comments passed along by players, coaches, fans and scouts, everyone witnessed hockey at its best. |
|
 |
|
 |
 |