A TIE TO END THE SPUD

The 2014 Spud tournament arrived in PEI this past weekend. Pownal opened the tournament facing the host the Charlottetown Abbies Thursday afternoon. A total of 20 teams competed in the Atom AAA category this year. Connor MacPherson scored the Red Devils only goal in game 1 with an assist from Luca Le Clair as the Devils lost their opening game 5-1.  An early goal by the Abbies opened the first period giving the Abbies the lead until the last minute when Connor tied it up.  Caleb Drake got the start and made a number of super saves to keep the game close. A questionable goal by the Abbies in the dying seconds of the first gave Charlottetown the 2-1 lead going into the second. 

The second period saw some chances for Pownal but the boys were not able to finish and put the puck in the net. The Red Devils moved the puck well in the second but the determination witnessed the weekend before was missing.  Charlottetown added one more goal to their lead to finish the second 3-1.  Another early goal by the Abbies in the third ended the first game of the tournament for Pownal with a loss. Connor MacPherson was awarded the player of the game recognizing his effort throughout three periods.

Game two opened up against Kent Sud.   A fast skating team kept the Red Devils moving.   Both teams executed passes throughout three periods of play.  Kent Sud led Pownal at the end of the first 2-0.  Despite the early two goals, Carson Gray kept the score down to only two making a number of glove saves and stopping a couple of two on one breaks.  Carson deservedly received player of the game for his performance. Kent Sud increased their lead in the second period to 3 and continued to shut out the Red Devils. It was not until the third period that Pownal would score with their first and only goal coming from Connor MacPherson unassisted.  Kent Sud added two more goals to win the game 4-1.  “We had a lot of chances in this game and yesterday’s against the Abbies and missed those opportunities,” said Sam, Luca and Cole after the game.  “We need to capitalize on these chances”.

Pownal faced the Antigonish Bulldogs in their third and final game of the SPUD. Both teams were sniffing for a win.  Caleb Drake started in nets and was tested very early in the first.  The Bulldogs opened the scoring first and protected their 1-0 lead until the second. Pownal did not give up and responded within the opening seconds of the second period.  Holden Bradley found the net after the Devils showed off their passing skills.  Cole McKeigan and Simon Hughes assisted on the goal.  Pownal’s defense worked hard to break up plays and get the passes off to their forwards.  Pownal and Bulldog fans were entertained to a close game with both teams having a number of chances.  Bull Dogs took the lead once again in the second followed by a goal from Sam Parsons assisted by Luca Le Clair to tie it up once again. Antigonish managed to put in another goal before the second ended to take the lead 3-2.
 
Red Devils found some spark to tie up the game within the first few minutes of the third period.  Simon Hughes scored assisted by Holden Bradley and Cole McKeigan.  The rest of the third was end to end action with both goalies doing their part to help their teams. The game ended in a 3-3 tie giving each team one point to end the SPUD.  Landon MacDonald deserved the player of the game showing off his skills defensively and offensively in front of his great-grandfather who was able to come and watch his first Red Devils game.  Coach Cory felt his team lacked the competitive edge witnessed in Moncton but was pleased with the way the boys passed and looked for the passes.  "I thought as the tournament went on our boys got stronger but in tournaments we cant wait for momentum we have to create it from the start. The last game being our strongest I thought that the boys moved  the puck around really good. Played in all ends. Our Goalies really stepped up this weekend making themselves big and making the big saves when we needed them to. I look forward to Tuesdays game when we can put everything together and take a win out of the game."