Weekly Report Dec. 11
The Madison Excavating Major Atoms travelled to Vaughan this past weekend to participate in the annual Vaughan Kings Classic Tournament.
An early start on Friday had the Devils lined up against the tough Toronto Marlies. The teams battled back and forth but it was Toronto who struck first late in the first to take a 1-0 lead. The Marlies would add another in the second to make it 2-0 but the Devils were undetered andkept up the offensive pressure. Liam Philip found the back of the Toronto net, on the assist from Thomas Kuipers and Brody Partridge late in the third to give Quinte their first point of the game. Shortly after it was an unassisted goal from Beckett Ewart to tie the game 2-2. With 15 secondsleft in the game the Marlies snuck one past Quinte netminder Dean Spry to take the 3-2 win.
Game 2 Friday had the Devils meet up with a familiar team from league play as they faced the Whitby Wildcats. The Devils were held off the scoreboarduntil the second period when Jared Langdon scored on the set up from Ty Therrien and Philip. Later in the second Landon Wright added another for Quinteon an unassisted run to the net. In the third set, Ewart added one more on the assist from Langdon to make it a 3-0 victory. Glen McInnes recorded the shut out in net.
Saturday had the Devils face the Nepean Raiders. Both teams remained scoreless after the first but it was in the second that Quinte found their pace and took a strong 3-0 lead before the end of the period. Opening up scoring for the Devils was Kuipers, assisted by Philip. Less than a minute later Kirk Stevensonadded the security goal on the set up from Ewart. Followed by another from Ewart, assisted by Langdon. The Raiders came out strong in the third and whilethey added 2 to their side of the scoreboard, Quinte added one more of their own with another from Kuipers, assisted by Brody Partridge and Philip. Spry wassolid in net for the Devils.
Quarter finals on Saturday was a tough match up against the Sun County Panthers. This time it was the opponents who took the lead in the first set but a determinedQuinte team produced solid offense and defence throughout the second to first tie the game 1-1 on a beauty from Partridge, assisted by Philip. Wright gavethe Devils the lead for the first time of the game just a minute later on the pass from Therrien. A goal from Sun County early in the third would tie it up. The game stayed that way throughout the third and forced an OT which resulted in the same 2-2 score. The game was forced to a shoot out. Shooting for the Devils were Wright, Langdon and Ewart, each of them scoring while McInnes stopped the third Panther shooter and secured the game.
Sunday had the Devils play in the semi finals of the tournament against the Toronto Marlies. Quinte came out strong to take a 1-0 lead in the first when Therrien found the back of the Marliesnet on the pass from Ewart. A quick footed Wright went into the offensive zone unassisted to make it a 2-0 lead for the Devils in the opening minutes of the second. Toronto battled hard and took one of their own in the second to make it 2-1. The third saw the Marlies pour on the offense and add 2 unanswered and 1 empty net goals to take a 4-2victory. Spry worked hard protecting the cage for the Devils.
On Deck: The Madison Excavating Major Atoms will take to the road next Saturday to face the Raiders in Ajax-Pickering at the Don Beer Arena.