Strathroy Jr. Rockets Midget AE Win Olympic Silver
The
Dale Wurfel Chrysler Dodge Jeep Midget AE team competed in the Strathroy &
District Minor Hockey Olympics over the weekend of Nov. 16th-19th.
The team opened up their round robin play against the North London Nationals. London dictated most of the play through the first 2
periods to make the score 1-0. In the third, London would add 3 additional goals to blank Strathroy
4-0. Looking to avenge their first loss of the tournament, the Jr. Rockets met
St. Marys AE in the afternoon. Strathroy came out flying and quickly put 2
goals past the St. Marys goaltender. The first marker went to Jackson Kading
from Zach Noble-Welch and Brandon Van Dyk followed by Brent Van Bavel from Josh
Pommer and Kevin Murphy.
St. Marys would respond on back-to-back power play chances and even the score at 2. Strathroy would take the lead once again on a goal from Matt Slegers assisted by Josh Fulmer only to have St. Marys tie it once again at 3. Josh Pommer made it 4-3 late in the 2nd to carry the lead into the intermission. St. Marys would tie it at 4 midway through the 3rd period to make an exciting finish. Kading and Slegers would set up Fulmer for the game winner with only 20 seconds on the clock to make the final 5-4. The following day, the Jr. Rockets met the Oakridge Aeros for the first game of the day. Murphy would open the scoring early with helpers from Pommer and Kyle Down. Oakridge would respond on the power play to tie the game 1-1 after the first. Strathroy would battle through some penalty trouble throughout the 2nd and 3rd period and strong goaltending from Troy Cormier kept the Jr. Rockets in the game until Pommer would score on the assist from Van Bavel. Murphy would add his 2nd goal of the afternoon with a short-handed marker to make the final 3-1 Strathroy. The end of round robin play would see Strathroy face the Petrolia Oilers. This was a must-win game for the Jr. Rockets to enter the gold medal game. The boys came out with a purpose and controlled the game from start to finish with 3 power play markers. Van Bavel scored first from Pommer and Matt Pitt. Murphy scored the second goal of the game from Pommer and Van Bavel. Alex Parker would round out the scoring from Justin Thorne and Noble-Welch. Excellent defensive play from Kyle Vanderheyden, Josh Vandeven and Brandon Silva along with Derek Buren earning the shutout in net sealed the trip to the gold medal game. Strathroy would meet North London once again in the final and were looking to redeem themselves. London would open the scoring in the 1st period. The Jr. Rockets battled back to tie the game midway through the 2nd period on a goal from Van Bavel with the assists to Pommer and Murphy. The Nationals would take the lead late in the 2nd period only to have Strathroy respond immediately on the power play on a goal from Pitt with the lone assist to Fulmer. London would score early in the 3rd period to take a 3-2 lead. Strathroy had many opportunities including a late short-handed chance which they couldn’t convert and London would score an empty net marker to make the final 4-2 for the Nationals. Members of the 2012/13 team are; Troy Cormier, Derek Buren, Justin Thorne, Josh Vandeven, Kevin Murphy, Zach Noble-Welch, Kyle Down, Alex Parker, Matt Pitt, Josh Fulmer, Kyle Vanderheyden, Brent Van Bavel, Josh Pommer, Jackson Kading, Brandon Silva, Matt Slegers and Brandon Van Dyk. The coaching staff are Paul Van Dyk , Wayne Flooren and Ryan Vanderheyden. The trainers are Joe Silva and Bryan Kading and the manager is Mario Slegers. We would like to thank Dale Wurfel Chrysler Dodge Jeep for their team sponsorship this year.