Tourney MVP Charlie Gollob scores the GWG for Ontario Black
The Continental Divide was a fun attempt by tournament organizers to involve the whole tournament to create a game amongst a game. Each of the 12 remaining teams not in the Championship played a continuous game, each playing a mini game of 20 minutes. After five periods The Divide was all knotted up at 8-8. Great Plains took on mutual rival Alberta to decide the Champion. Great Plains got up early on a clap bomb by JJ Wiebusch. Alberta showed no signs of quit. They answered with three goals in four minutes avenging their only loss of the tournament and lifted Canada to the Divide title. A fun end to the tournament for all teams!
Team Canada scores in the Continental Divide
Southeast celebrates their goal Sunday
Coming in The Show, Ontario Black was the favorite. Boasting the ultimate team of superstars from the talent rich Toronto area. Their opponent came from Florida. An area better known for football and beaches, but after Sunday, it will be remembered for hockey. Southeast comprised of 15 players from Florida and 2 from North Carolina showed that the sunbelt is a new hotbed for hockey talent.
After losing to Ontario Black 7-1 on Friday, many thought that the Championship would be a cake walk for the Black. Hockey is a funny game of both physical and mental challenges. Since their loss to Black, Southeast ran off three straight wins over Quebec, BC and Team Canada. Goaltender Jacob Fowler was red hot and a big factor in how well the Beach Boys would do Sunday in the final.
Max Jelavic's goal waved off
The obvious keys to victory for the Americans was to keep the score low and score first. Austin Cyhaniuk got Southeast on the board on a nifty tip in to get his team on the board. Playing strong defense and attacking at just the right time, Southeast had several more chances to get a 2-0 lead, including a disallowed goal by Max Jelavic who batted the puck out of the air.
As expected, Black would answer getting a goal by Cole Lonsdale in the second to send the title game into the third period tied 1-1. In the third, the ice began to slant in favor Black Southeast did not register a shot on goal in the first few minutes. That is when Tourney MVP Charlie Gollob got a perfect feed from Mick Thompson and Gollob made a pretty move to get Fowler down and then he lifted puck into the top corner for the eventual game winner. Interviewed after the game, the humble Gollob stared down the camera and packed house at BIG and said he was "happy for his team and very thankful for his coaches and parents for making this team possible."
Southeast would fight and add sustained pressure on Black Goalie Dominic Divincentiis, but the Woodbridge, Ontario native was tall to the task. He held off the late charge and Ontario Black emerged as champions of The Show.
All Tourney Team Member Shane Wright
Player | Country | Team |
---|---|---|
Matthew Savoie | Canada | Alberta |
Isaac Howard | USA | Great Plains |
JoJo Dable | USA | Mid Atlantic |
Dylan Roobroeck | Canada | Ontario Red |
Jhett Larson | Canada | Team Canada |
Seamus Casey | USA | Southeast |
Jacob Fowler | USA | Southeast |
Shane Wright | Canada | Ontario Black |
Ty Nelson | Canada | Ontario Black |
Charlie Gollob (MVP) | Canada | Ontario Black |
All Tourney Team member Isaac Howard scores for Great Plains
Coming Soon
Pic provided by ZR Photo