Bracebridge Fowler Atom Bears 25^th Anniversary Tournament Champions

While the March break is traditionally a time to get away and enjoy a well earned vacation, the Fowler Atom Bears chose to add “Gold medalists” to their season accomplishments.

March 19^th -21^st St Catherines Warriors hold a tournament where Atom Teams from across the Province attend to compete for the Title of Tournament Champions.

Friday the 19th Game 1 was against the Paris Wolfpack. Although Wolves are dangerous in packs the Bears took control early with Ben Little, fed by Nolan Rochette, scoring 50 seconds into period 1. Paris scored to tie it at the 6^th minute mark. The tie was short lived, broken 2 minutes later when Little passed to Rochette who got it to Parker Bowman who snipered a goal 2 top shelf. Campbell Coutts, from a great defensive play, moved the puck to Nolan Rochette who potted the 3^rd goal of first period giving the Bears a 2 goal lead. The 2^nd period saw the Wolfpack try hard to claw their way back but Little’s pass to Keegan Tannahill who sprung Rochette for his second of the game closed the door to a comeback. Net minders Thomas LeBlanc and Christopher Cousineau backstopped the win. Bears vs Paris ended 4-3 with notables Rochette 2 goals, 2 assists and Little with 1 goal, 2 assists.

Fridays second game had The Fowler Bears meeting the Wallaceburg Lakers. Off to a slow start the Bears took almost the full period to score their first when Coutts made a stellar pass to Conner White who sent Bowman in for the games first. In the 2^nd period Bears Rochette passed to Bowman who potted his 2^nd while the Lakers scored to come within 1. That was the last time the Lakers would be close enough to score. Melle van’t Wout passed to Drew Peacock who sent White in for the Bears 3^rd goal and the flood gates opened. Bears scored 5 more in the 3^rd period. Captain Bowman lead the offense scoring 4 goals with 1 assist, White with 2 goals and an assist, Tannahill with a goal and assist, Rochette with a goal and assist and Zac McLennan gathering 2 assists and Zac Bell with 1 assist. The team rallied around the tremendous support the defense brought to the game. Noah Rowland, Coutts, Kirkland McCrank and van’t Wout created the iron curtain and sunk the Lakers offence. Great Defense and 2 solid goalies LeBlanc and Cousineau supported the resounding 8-1 victory. The team was playing so well PeeWee Coaches thought the Bears were a PeeWee team they were yet to meet.

Game 3 maybe was too early for the Bears who suffered their 1 and only tournament lose. The Strathroy Jr. Rockets collected their first goal when a Bears stick sent the puck behind their own goalie. This bad break was harder to overcome when the Jr. Rockets score twice in the 2^nd periods first minute to go ahead 3-0. The Bears fought back with goal 1 scored by Bell from a feed from McLennan. The 3^rd brought the Bears 2^nd goal when McCrank feed Little who sent it 5 hole. The team played well but too little too late allowed Strathroy to win 3-2.

Game 4 Coach Bowman emphasized the need for offensive pressure and hard skating and the boys heard him loud and clear. From the moment the puck was dropped each line scored on their first shift. The Bears never let the Warriors out of their end. The 1^st goal from Bowman was a sharp pass from Little, 37 seconds into the game. Goal 2 was defenseman van’t Wout unassisted 1 minute 58 seconds into the game. Goal 3 Bowman from McLennan at the 2 minutes and 57 seconds mark and the 4^th 1^st period goal was Bowmans 2^nd from a beautiful feed from Little. Bowman scored his 3^rd of the game in the only scoring in the second. The final period the Bears worked the puck around dominating the play. With under 3 minutes left in the game the Bears scored their 6^th McLennan from Bowman. Coach Rowland jinxed the shut-out as the Warriors snuck their 1 and only score passed Cousineau off a Bears skate. This sent the Bears on a final tear with Peacock scoring unassisted. 3 more found their mark before the game finalized. Bowman to White to defenseman Rowland for a powerful point shot made 8 and the finishing touch #9 was Bell from McLennan and Tannahill. LeBlanc carried a shut-out for his half of thre game to a Bears victory 9 -1.

The Bears were tied for 1^st place in the Round Robin having been the Team to score more goals then any other Team in the entire tournament. The Bears lose to Strathroy was the tie breaker that moved the Bears to 2^nd in the semi’s which brought there OMHA Semi final adversary the Prince Edward County Kings next in line to be defeated.

Tournament Semi Final (Game 5) The OMHA series with the Prince Edward County Kings was close but that was not going to be the case this game. The bears still riding their earlier success attacked the fortress of the Kings and never let up. Once again the 1^st 3 lines of the game opened their shift with a goal each. Rochette from Little and Bowman then Peacock from White and Bell then Bell from Rowland and Bowman gave the Bears a 3-1 lead into the 2^nd. White sent in alone from a pass from Peacock and Bowman added a 4^th while Bell netted his 2^nd of the game from Bowman and McLennan making 5. Peacock McCrank and Bowman combined to add the 6^th goal. Notables had Peacock scoring 2, Bell scoring 2 and Bowman with 5 assists as the Bears double the Prince Edward County Kings 6-3.

The 6^th and Final Championship Game brought the only team to beat the Bears in round robin play the Jr Rockets. Strathroy opened the scoring at 7:03 of the 1^st which was quickly answered by Rochette working a pass from Peacock and Bowman behind the Rocket tender. White blew up the Rockets hopes with his 2^nd period scrabble potting the Tannahill Peacock pass for the games go ahead goal. The final icing on the cake with 0.02 seconds left Tannahill from Bowman put an empty netter in to WIN THE TOURNAMENT 3-1 bringing home the Championship banner. The Coaches of the Team could not believe how well the team played this weekend stating “this is the best the team has played all season”. A special thank you for all the parents making this weekend possible and a VERY VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU to our sponsor Fowler Construction who helped our team attend this year end event.