NEWS PHOTO
JAMES TUBB
Ty Hynes of South East Athletic Club’s U15 AAA Tigers fires a shot on net in the first period of his team’s opening game of the 48th annual Hockey Hounds tournament against the Prairie Storm on Thursday night at the Kinplex.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.comReporterTubb
It came down to the wire, but the U15AAA SEAC Tigers are starting their tournament off with a win.
The Tigers beat the Prairie Storm 4-3 Thursday night to kick off the 48th annual Medicine Hat Hockey Hounds tournament. U15AAA SEAC head coach Tyler Keen said he was happy with the result but saw room for improvement.
“I think we had some good goaltending backing us up and some big performances by certain guys tonight,” Keen said. “I’m really happy with the result obviously, I think there is a little bit of polishing going into tomorrow playing a tough NAX(Northern Alberta Extreme) team but happy with the result and happy with how the guys played.”
Colby Motz opened the scoring with an un-assisted goal only a 1:24 second into the game, to put the Tigers up 1-0 early. Prairie storm answered back quickly to tie it up, less than two minutes later, with a goal from their captain Luke Moroz.
The Tigers retook the lead on an unassisted goal from their captain Josiah Jackson, with 9:23 left in the period. The first period would end with the U15AAA SEAC Tigers ahead in shots 11-8 and on the scoreboard, 2-1.
Prairie Storm tied the game up at 2-2 with a Leo Jewitt goal that came at the 14:01 mark in the second frame. Jewitt’s goal was the only offence of the period as the Storm led the frame in shots, 9-6, as the game was tied with 20 minutes left.
Keen said he didn’t think the Tigers had a good second period but was happy with how they answered back in the third.
“I didn’t think we had our best effort in the second and we responded in the third the way that we were hoping,” Keen said. “I’m just glad we’re able to bounce back from maybe having an off period and showing some resiliency in our group.”
Jackson picked up his second of the game to get the Tigers back on the board and re-take the lead. Motz assisted on the go ahead goal for the Tigers that came with 16:54 left in the game.
SEAC would pickup a two goal lead off of a puck that was tipped and floated up and over the Storm net minder and into the net. Theron Bensler was credited with the goal as the Tigers had a 4-2 lead with 14:41 left in the contest.
The Storm made it interesting late with Jewitt’s second goal of the game with less than seven minutes left. As time winded down and Prairie Storm had the extra attacker, there were lots of chances but Tigers net minder Colter Gans shut the door for the 4-3 win.
Gans had 24 saves in the win for the SEAC Tigers, who face the Northern Alberta Extreme Friday morning at 11 a.m., at the Hockey Hounds arena. Keen said he’s excited to see what his team can bring in the matchup.
“They’re going to be fast and skilled, so we’re just making sure that we’re faster and more skilled than them,” Keen said. “It’s going to be an early morning, just excited to see what our guys can bring. The tournament format’s not something we get to see all of the time so it’ll be good to see how they respond to it.”
Hockey Hounds Tournament Scores
Leduc Oil Kings 5, Delta Academy 3
Okotoks Oilers 4, Martinsville Marauders 3
Prairie Academy 6, Pilot Mound Academy 3
Airdrie Extreme 5, Humboldt Broncos 3
St. Georges Academy 6, Pac Saints 3
West Vancouver 4, Northern Alberta Extreme 1
SEAC Tigers 4, Prairie Storm 3
Cariboo Cougars 2, Lethbridge Golden Hawks 2
