Crusaders Go To Battle on Home Turf.
The Bob Black Memorial Tournament was hosted by the Durham Crusaders, based out of Delpark Arena in Oshawa over the weekend. It was home to 60 teams competing from the U11-U18 levels in both LL and Rep divisions, making competition fierce and your U11 LL Crusaders once again, found themselves battling for glory and a shot at a third tournament win on the season.
On Friday, the Crusaders faced off against Lourdes, a team from the Kingston area and early scouting reports were bleak as the boys in blue went into this game not knowing what was ahead of them. Perhaps it was 401 fatigue or hotel pool legs, but Lourdes was not ready for what was coming their way. The Crusaders went to work quickly scoring just 49 seconds into the first period. They would add 2 more before the first buzzer, sitting comfortably with a 3-0 lead going into the second. While the team had been hard at work, focusing on passing, and playing a full team game in recent practices, it showed and the second and third periods were almost a carbon copy of the first adding two more in each frame, shutting out Lourdes in the tournament opener 7-0. Shoutout in this game to JP on the shutout, Mason B for the hatrick, and also Taylor in finding a new element in his game, walking away with 4 points.
The Crusaders returned to the Keep on Saturday to welcome another distant opponent - Shallow Lake Lakers, hailing from the Bruce Peninsula region. While the Crusaders were able to have a good nights sleep, the Lakers were up early that day going to work against Lourdes before facing off against your home team in the afternoon. Historically, the Crusaders have had slow starts in tournament Game 2’s and this one was no exception. For the first period, play would continue non-stop end to end without either team able to find the back of the net. The Crusaders goalie Dylan, played strong in net and allowed the players to regroup before preparing a barrage of attacks for the second period. The Crusaders struck within the first 10 seconds of the second period and this would be the first of eight before heading into the third to a scoreless Shallow Lake. Although Shallow Lake would get on the scoreboard, with two of their own in the third, the Crusaders would add 1 more for a 10-2 final and a trip to the “A” Final on Sunday morning. Well done on this day to Hudson adding 6 points to his record.
A matchup just waiting to happen. Recall the Crusaders just fell short in the Regional Silver Stick Tournament in December. Had they moved on to the final round, they would have found themselves up against the Apsley U11 LL Flames who ultimately went on to win that tournament. What could have been was now on the line, as the Crusaders faced off against a powerhouse who has gone undefeated in their regular season. The Flames made a statement early with one of their own stepping into clapper from the blue line and ended up top shelf in the back of our net. Like something out of the NHL Skills Hardest Shot Challenge, the Crusaders bench staff quickly checked birth certificates, but no luck… this kid was actually 10 years old. It was like a slow-burn. The Crusaders would continue to battle, but every once in a while the Flames would find a chink in the armour, and continue to tally the points. With two more added in the first and three in the second, the Crusaders were facing an uphill battle for the third. Although they seemed to stop flood, they were still unable to add any of their own, falling to the ultimate champions of the tournament, the Apsley U11 LL Flames.
Perhaps there is a rivalry in the making or perhaps the boys in blue should go back to the drawing board. You can bet if the Flames return next year, there will be a few Crusaders looking for redemption.
The U11 LL Crusaders will now turn their full attention to the remainder of their playoffs. Having lost the first game in a nailbiter, they will have to dig in and come away with a few wins in their final 5 games if they ever hope for a chance at a semi final, or even better, finals matchup to conclude what has been an awesome season.
Way to go Crusaders, and Good Luck!
-Coach Steve