2008 Turkey Roast Tournament

This weekend was the 2008 Turkey Roast Tournament in Lansing at The Summit at Capital Center. There were 5 different divisions in the tournament and Nathan's Hawk #1 team was in the Squirt "B" division along with two other Hawk teams, Lansing Capital Pride, Kensington Valley Cavalry, and Soo Burger King Flames (from Canada). The boys started slow on Friday against Capital Pride and ended up losing 6-2. They seemed to have some dead legs. Saturday started out better with a 5-1 win over Kensington Valley but then we played the dreaded team of the whole tournament in Soo Burger King and got beat 11-2. They were definitely a "travel" team playing in the wrong bracket. That score was typical for every game they played. Even though we only had one win, we ended up being the third seed for the semi-finals due to point differentials and ended up playing Lansing Capital Pride (2nd seed) on Sunday morning to see who would go to the finals against Soo.

The boys seemed very determined prior to the game. We'd lost to Capital Pride twice now and know they're beatable. They play rough hockey but our boys were ready for them. I had a good feeling about the game before it started... here's what happened: First off, the kids skated their butts off. After two periods, the score was 0-0 and the Lansing team was getting very frustrated. Then, our top player took a breakaway down and scored to make it 1-0. About a minute later, their top line came down and shot one past our goalie to make it 1-1 about half-way through the third period even though we'd been shorthanded 4 times and killed off each of the penalties. A couple minutes later, Trevor was skating through center ice and was taken out by two of their players (one high, one low). Somehow, the refs didn't see it as a penalty and they took the loose puck down and scored on a wraparound immediately after that to make it 2-1. with about 2 minutes left in the game. Then, with time running out, we were circling their net and Trevor somehow snuck a nice backhand through a ton of traffic in front and scored the tying goal with 4.5 seconds left. Everyone was going crazy and we now had a chance to get to the finals! The score was tied 2-2 at the end of regulation but less than a minute into overtime, Lansing got a breakaway and made a nice shot to score the game-winner. I felt so bad for our kids. They really played a great game and with a couple bad bounces ended up losing one they definitely should have won. But they ended up taking 3rd place out of six teams in the tournament. The boys will get another crack at Lansing next Sunday in a league matchup back at Capital Center.

I never realized how draining a weekend tournament would be! We only played four games over three days but everyone was exhausted when it was over. The Holiday Inn was overrun by HAWK players. Besides our team, the other two squirt teams stayed there along with at least one Bantam and one Pee Wee team. Since all the squirt teams practice together on Mondays, there were plenty of familiar faces to play with. When the boys weren't playing hockey games on the ice they were swimming, running around the hotel, playing mini's (mini-hockey) in the Holidome or hallway or just hanging out having fun. It was great that they got to spend some time together away from the ice. All the players get along really well. Nathan seemed to hang out with Trevor Z. and Trevor C. mostly. And Allison played with their sisters most of the time. It was also nice to sit and talk over drinks with some of the parents. All in all it was a fun, but tiring, weekend. Next weekend we play at Southside and at Lansing. Current Adray league record is 6-1-1 and overall record is 8-5-2.

Go Hawks! Pictures below, click to enlarge... We're also getting a disk of action photos of the team during their games. I'll post some of those when we get them...

Playing "mini's" in the Holidome. The boys were having a blast doing this. And it was nice because they were all in one location and the pool was right next to where they were playing. At one point, the boys were told they couldn't play in there. Then, a few hours later they were allowed to again since they were running the halls when they couldn't play and there must have been some complaints. Where are the parents of these kids?!
More mini-hockey with teammates
Madeline and Allison
Josh, Dyllan, Nathan, Matthew, Trever C. and Trevor Z. before the Kensington Valley game
Headed to the ice...
Matthew, Trevor Z. and Nathan prior to the rematch with Capital Pride. Matt wore the "C" and Nathan wore the "A". The boys rotated for each game.
Rachel, Madeline, and Allison doing crafts (P.J. Party)