Peterborough Novice AAA Petes pumped up for first tourney as Pat Larock Memorial Tournament begins
Peterborough Novice AAA Petes pumped up for first tourney as Pat Larock Memorial Tournament begins
Peterborough novice AAA Petes Ben Bowen scores top shelf on Meadowvale Hawks' goalie Logan King during opening day action of the Pat Larock Memorial Hockey Tournament on Friday September 11, 2015 at Evinrude Centre in Peterborough, Ont. The Novice AAA Petes won 9-1. Clifford Skarstedt/Peterborough Examiner/Postmedia Network
There is always excitement and uncertainty when Peterborough's novice AAA team takes to the ice for its first tournament.
The Pat Larock Memorial Tournament, featuring 46 teams in novice and atom age groups, is the first tournament of the season. For coaches and players in the AAA introductory novice division it's hard to know what to expect having never played at this level before.
The Russelle Chiropractic/Canadian Hockey Enterprises novice Petes lost their opening game 1-0 to the Markham Waxers on Friday morning then rebounded with a resounding 9-1 win over the Meadowvale Hawks.
“We're excited and pumped and ready to go,” Petes captain Nathan Gerelus said, of his team's first tournament. “The first game was tough. The second one was easier.”
Masen Johnston, who split the goaltending duties in each game with Lewis Brocklehurst, said it's exciting to have that first tournament on home ice.
“I'm a little bit better on home ice than away ice,” Johnston said. “You're playing at your home place and all the home people are there cheering for you.”
He's happy with the opening day performance.
“We played awesome. We worked hard every game. We're a really good team,” he said.
Novice Petes head coach Matt Bowen liked how his team bounced back from the morning defeat.
“We're just getting through our exhibition season and the last couple of games we'd been fighting the puck,” Bowen said.
“This afternoon was a great time to bounce back and put some in the net. We kept getting better each and every period. They kind of loosened up as we got through the game and got some confidence and started moving the puck. We really started to notice a good team game.”
Bowen admits the coaches didn't know what to expect.
“We knew the programs that were coming to this tournament were going to be good competition,” he said. “It's a great measuring stick for the season to get to play four games over two days and, hopefully, six games over three days.”
Ben Bowen led the Petes with two goals and an assist while Camden Burke tallied twice. Zach Russelle had a goal and two assists and Owen Fitzgerald a goal and assist. Also scoring were Colin Fitzgerald, Owen Cassidy and Ty Rupnow. Adding assists were Holden Rutherford, Emerson Taylor, Quinn Jacobs and Gerelus.
The tournament, named in memory of long-time Minor Petes volunteer Pat Larock, features two other Peterborough teams at minor atom and major atom. The minor atom Petes got off to a quick start thumping the Oakville Rangers 7-3 and doubling the Huron-Perth Lakers 4-2. The Canadian Tire major atom Petes dropped their opener 3-2 to the Cumberland Grads but rebounded with a 4-2 win over Huron-Perth.
Action continues Saturday at Northcrest, Kinsmen and Evinrude arenas. Playoff games are Sunday with finals at the Evinrude Centre at 12:45, 2:15 and 3:45 p.m.
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