Jan 26, 2013 | N. McIntosh | 777 views
Friday, Jan. 18 to Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013
Sarnia Sting Minor Midgets A/AA competed in the Motown Cup Hockey Tournament convened by Hockey Time Productions at
Southgate Civic Arena in Detroit on the Jan. 18-20
weekend. They lost in the final game by a score of 5 to 3 to Belle Tire from
neighboring Taylor Michigan. Before the final game Linda Lauzon felt that since Sarnia had lost
to Belle Tire in the round robin part of the tournament that they would win in
the final. However such was not to be the case.
In the first game on Friday at 9:15 pm, Sarnia
faced Hamilton Tigers a major midget team. Cole Lauzon was in net for the game
and the tournament due to the absence of Matt Szabo. Blain Adams
opened the scoring at 3:21 of the first assisted by Kevin Durco and Dillon
Saunders. Gage Riddoch added a second at 9:31 of the second when he intercepted
the puck and fired a long shot that caught the upper corner of the net. A
series of penalties plagued the game especially in the third with Hamilton taking various
penalties for nasty illegal hits. Cole was deliberately rammed right at the
close of the game and took several minutes down before slowly being helped off
knowing he had the 2-0 shutout.
Cole was able to continue in net in the second game against Belle Tire Major Midgets in their Red Wing red and
white uniforms, at 3:30pm on Saturday. Sarnia
opened the scoring at 3:03 of the first with a goal by Mike Pearce assisted by
Devin Butler and Jeff Williams. Belle Tire retaliated with a power play goal at
2:46 to tie the score at one after 1
period. Belle Tire scored again early in the second to take a 2-1 lead into the
third period and scored again early in the third. The Sting made it close with
a goal by Devin Butler at 2:39 of the third assisted by Jeff Williams. Two late
goals by Belle Tire, the last an empty net one sealed the 5-2 win for them.
Cole kicked out 21 shots in the loss.
In the late Saturday game at 9pm, Sarnia faced
Belle River Jr. Canadians also a major team with a spot in the final on the
line. Kyle Adams opened the scoring at 6:29 of the first with Drew Morgan
drawing the lone assist. Belle
River scored a lone goal
in the second to tie the game at one. Sarnia
took the lead again at 12:01 of the third when Dillon Saunders scored assisted
by Jeff Williams. A series of penalties followed that led to the Canadians
scoring a tying power play goal at 1:49 of the third. The 2-2 tie required a
tie breaker to decide the finalists. Sarnia
got the nod in having one fewer goals against during the three games.
Sarnia faced Belle Tire again in the final at
12:45 Sunday hoping to overturn the result of their previous matchup. Sarnia took the early
lead when Dillon Saunders scored assisted by Blain Adams at 8:33 of the first.
Belle Tire came right back with a goal to tie at 7:59 then took the lead on
another at 2:44 of the first. In the second, Sarnia tied it again with another goal by
Saunders assisted by Blain Adams and Adriano Fuoco at 7:07. The white and red
uniforms took the lead again before the period ended with a power play goal.
Belle Tire then added two goals in the third on a goal at 12:35 just as a Sarnia penalty ended and
another, a short handed goal, at 8:38. Jeff Williams scored for Sarnia at 5.6 seconds
assisted by Devin Butler but it was too little too late. Belle Tire won the championship with their
5-3 victory.