The Westlock Midget Warriors scored bronze at the 13th annual Gord Smith Memorial Tournament at the Rotary Spirit Centre Dec. 1-3.
Westlock posted a strong showing in the round robin with a 1-0-1 record and bowed out of the six-team event following an 11-0 semifinal defeat to the Barrhead Steelers Dec. 3. The clubs had played to a 3-3 draw in the tourney opener Dec. 1, while the Warriors posted a 9-6 win came over the Slave Lake Thunder Dec. 2.
Despite the Sunday loss, the Warriors had a good run that they’ll use to build on for the remainder of the 1660 Hockey League season.
“The competition in this tournament is high,” said assistant coach Braden Conquergood. “The crowd was really into it, so that makes for an exciting match. It’s a good bonding experience for the players. The penalties are very low out of respect; we prefer to have high competition in this tournament. It’s just pure hockey.”
While the Warriors lost to the Steelers Dec. 3, the two squads played to a 3-3 tie Dec. 1.
During that match, Braydie Teszeri opened the scoring up for the Warriors late in the first period off a pass from Zaidyn Pipke courtesy of Jacob Reagan. Barrhead tied the game up half-way through the second period, but that Keenan Fortier caught a pass from Addison Weir to put Westlock back in the lead.
That lead was short-lived, however, as the Steelers were able to answer back a few moments later to tie the game up 2-2.
Barrhead pulled ahead early in the third period to lead the game 3-2, but with just six minutes remaining in the game, Kestyn Dutchak fed the puck to Teszeri, who was able to get it to Pipke to tie the game 3-3.
Following the tilt, the hungry players competed in a shootout for a pizza dinner, which Westlock won 4-3.
“We were a little rough but we played pretty good,” said alternate captain Josh Reagan.
“Jayden Vandelagamaat had a great game, he even got a goal during the shootout. We just need to work on our breakout and getting into the offensive zone and getting some shots on net.”
Gordon L. Smith was a longtime supporter of minor sports in the Westlock region, volunteering his time in a number of sports ranging from hockey to baseball. As the original organizer of the December tournament, the Warriors felt it was appropriate to carry the tradition on in his name.
“Gord Smith was very involved in the community for over 40 years,” said Conquergood. “There’s no better way to say thank you to him than to have something that he loved in his name.”
The Warriors are back in action Friday, Dec. 15, when they host the Wetaskiwin Ice Kings.
