Slammers advance to title game on Sunday in Stanley

Charles Dickens famous words from A Tale of Two Cities adequately detailed the emotions of the DQ Slammers on day two of the Stanley tournament. The morning game was the best of times, while the afternoon tilt was...not.

Game three of the tournament saw a rematch with Wicked Good from Carleton. The team from 20 clicks up highway 2 are back in the league after a year away and had just put up a glorious result earlier in the morning versus the Coyotes.

The Slammers, knowing that Carleton would be confident and ready to play, came out fast and strong and established an early lead. With some strong passing and good D to D movement of the puck, the Slammers opened up a 6-0 lead after the first period. All three lines and all three sets of D were in on the scoring that continued through the second and the third periods. With three more in the second period and a further three in the third, the Slammers skated away with a convincing 12-0 win.

Everyone was, again today, happy to help two of their TEAMmates celebrate firsts in their Atom A career. Parker Stephenson netted his first goal in the Carleton game, and William Bridgeo recorded his first shutout in the game. Super job, boys !!

As is the tradition at tournaments, there was a Player of the Game awarded and it went to #17, Zander King. The hard hat for the game went to Goose. Way to go, boys !!

The Slammers did not have a lot of time to regroup before their second tilt of the day; a rematch versus the home team. Although the boys had beated the Coyotes just over 24 hours earlier, the game was close and both teams had something to prove before heading to the final on Sunday.

Both teams played with grit and determination, treating the fans in attendance to a fast paced tilt. The Slammers got out to a 1-0 lead on the strength of a goal by the the line of MacInnis-Mahar-Schnarr, but the team was not able to find the defensive cohesiveness they had on Friday which led to the hard skating Coyotes not only tying the game but taking a 3-1 lead into the third period. 

The Slammers regrouped at the intermission and came out hard in the third, but they were met by a Coyote at every turn. Neither team could find the back of the net until the line of Paul-Kennedy-King got the team to within one goal at 3-2 with 2:30 remaining in the period. The Slammers were able to get the puck deep and pull their tender with 1:27 to play and had chances to tie the game, but they were ultimately unable to net the equalizer and went down to defeat at the hand of the hard-nose Coyotes.

The Player of the Game for the Slammers was Presidenté while the Hard Hat went to Jesse Bull. Way to go, boys !!

The result of the game leaves the Slammers as the home team in the final tomorrow versus the Coyotes with the game to be played at 12:30 in Stanley.

The TEAM hopes that their awesome fans will be in attendance cheering LOUDLY. Moms, grammies, dads, siblings; ask your special player for their other jersey and wear in proudly in the stands to support the TEAM and help them bring home the banner.

Go Slammers!!

Drive safely, and see you tomorrow :-)