Panther Points!
The Manitoulin Panthers made a strong showing at the Soo PeeWee Extravaganza Tournament this past weekend, with the U-15 team bringing home the championship trophy! The U-15 squad triumphed with a 4-0 victory over the West Nipissing Sting in the championship game. The match remained scoreless until the third period, when Adrian Bois broke the deadlock. Goals quickly followed from Brayden Armstrong, Alexei Pelletier, and another from Bois, sealing the win.
The Panthers were unstoppable throughout the tournament, with goaltenders Liam Stephens and Sierra Elliot combining for five shutouts throughout the weekend and zero goals allowed in round-robin games.
While the U-13 team didn’t secure a win, they still showcased their determination, with goals from Brody, Maximus, Matthew, and Boston putting them on the scoreboard. Though they came up short in all their games, the team had a fun-filled weekend and showed great sportsmanship. Both teams represented Manitoulin proudly, with the U-15 squad capping off their weekend with a well-earned championship.
Off-Island Ice!
This past weekend a pair of former Islanders who’ve moved to Sudbury to pursue their hockey dreams, Wiky’s Koda Peltier and Rockville’s Max King, travelled with their provincially ranked #2 squad, the U15 AA Nickel City Cubs, to Port Huron for the Silverstick International Finals. The Cubs sailed through the round robin defeating Ontario #13 Milton Winterhawks 4-3, Utah #1 Ogden Jr Mustangs 6-3 and Pennsylvania #19 Lehigh Valley Phantoms 4-1 to set up a quarter final against Milton, who they again defeated, this time 3-1.
Punching on into the semis they faced the Ontario #1 ranked Vaughan Rangers, who entered the match at 41-0-1 for the season. In a tightly fought match that took double overtime to decide, Koda potted the winner off a rebound of Max’s shot for a 2-1 victory, securing their team a spot in the finals against the #8 Mississauga Beast.
In the final, Mississauga broke through, going up 1-0 after a scoreless first. The Cubs fought back to tie it in the third, but this time fell in a double overtime heartbreaker, losing 2-1.
This past weekend another local lad from the U13 AA Copper Cliff Reds faced off against the North Bay Trappers in an exciting doubleheader. The first matchup proved to be a nail-biter from start to finish. Evander Ominika-Shawana played a key role, delivering a solid performance on defense. As the final seconds ticked away, Evander stepped up with a stunning goal from the blue line, securing a 3-3 tie for the Reds. His clutch play highlighted his ability to shine under pressure and kept his team in contention.
Their second game presented a tougher challenge, with the Reds falling behind early and entering the third period trailing 6-1. However, the team refused to back down, and Evander once again elevated his game. He contributed an assist and another impressive goal from the blue line, sparking a comeback attempt.
Despite their efforts, the Reds came up just short, with the game ending 6-4 in favor of the Trappers. Evander’s performance over the weekend demonstrated his tenacity and skill and will be called upon in their last six regular season games before they attend the “Presidents Cup” in Pittsburgh! Good job, all!
Pool party for Pets!
The Spring Bay Pool League plans on having a Super Bowl Fundraiser again this year for Manitoulin Pet Rescue. Host Ray Digout plans on making his famous spaghetti for the event, there are prizes and fun of course! If you are interested in being part of the festivities you can call Ray at 249-997-0020.
