Feb 23, 2026 | Kate Wilenski | 15 views
Bob Black Memorial Tournament Listlessness Proves Costly
Our home tournament was one that everyone was looking forward to, hosted at Delpark Homes Centre in Oshawa, and one that the players and staff were hoping to go deep in and compete for medals. Both Crusaders and Manvers teams were taking part from Three County together with Oro Thunder, Temiskaming Shores Puckhounds, Frontenac Flyers and Kemptville Royals.
GAME 1 v. MANVERS MUSTANGS RED [WON 5-0]
The team came out flying in the first game with goals from Annis, Mellor, Newell, Siebert and Wilenski
which set us on our way to a comfortable victory outshooting the opposition 38-8 with Burleau getting
the shut out, with a particularly excellent stick save preserving that shut-out.
GAME 2 v. ORO THUNDER [DREW 3-3]
The format for this tournament was a strange one and the team knew that a win was vital to ensure a
top two finish, and it looked for all the world like that victory would come when Annis, Mellor and Piette
gave us a 3-0 lead at the end of the first period, however a couple of very soft goals late in the second
period gave Oro hope and then they equalized 23 seconds into the third period for three goals on ten
shots in the game. The boys tried to get the victory they deserved but the Oro goalie stood on his head
the rest of the way and saved 27/30 shot attempts with some spectacular saves when we were camped
inside their blue line for most of the last eight minutes.
GAME 3 v. DURHAM CRUSADERS BLUE [LOST 2-6]
The team started strong and were up 2-0 early when Annis and Mellor combined brilliantly to give Annis
a tap in at the back post, and then Siebert went through the team and scored top corner. A couple of
unnecessary penalties gave Blue a way back into the game and some defensive errors and frailties
surfaced once more, whilst conceding 5 goals in 10 shot attempts by midway through the second meant
the team had too much to do in the third. Shot attempts of 10-18 should have resulted in a closer game.
GAME 4 v. KEMPTVILLE ROYALS [LOST 3-7]
Several one goal results went against our interests and the draw against Oro became problematic
against a team who were 3-0 with 29 goals scored. A win against Oro would have seen us into the semi-
finals, but we now needed to get a point to progress. Kemptville were clearly the best team in the
competition and we were never able to get ahead in the game, Siebert tied the score at 1-1, Mellor tied
the score at 2-2 and then Neath brought us back to 3-4, but they scored from the point for a 5-3 lead
then added a couple of goals late on when we were pushing for goals to equalize. We battled hard in
this game but bowed out of the competition earlier than we should have done.
1-2-3 DC!