The Peterborough Tyke 47s had been out of school for 2
weeks, and what better way to end the holiday then to travel to Niagara Falls
for the second Tyke Jamboree of the season.
The players were beyond excited!! Not only were they going
to have the opportunity to play new teams, in a new arena, but they also got to
stay at a hotel with a waterpark.
After the long drive Friday, the players were engaged in an energetic warm up in preparation for their first game; 2pm against Barrie. The lines were set, the pre-game talk had been delivered, and the players could be heard throughout the rink as they took to the ice chanting “Go 47’s Go!” Right from the first face off the players controlled the puck well. They poured on the pressure and scored several unanswered goals. That pressure, coupled with very strong goal tending led to the 47’s opening up the tournament with a victory. After the game, the chanting of “Go 47’s Go” quickly changed to “Waterpark, Waterpark” as the excitement to check into the hotel took over.
After a fun filled afternoon at the wave pool, and on the waterslides, the players hit their pillows hard in preparation for 2 games Saturday.
The first game Saturday was at 9am, and the players were facing off against a team they had seen at the Brampton Jamboree; this game would not be as easy as the afternoon before. The players knew they would be in tough against the team from Caledon, but they showed great grit and character as they battled through 44 minutes of play. Goaltending was strong at both ends of the ice. This was by far the best game this young group of players had played all season – they were aggressive, strong on the puck, played their positions, but most importantly they protected each other. They didn’t allow any of the opposing players to touch their goalies. The game ended in a split decision, but the effort and strong play made it feel like a win to the 47’s.
The final game was against Whitby Saturday evening at 5:15pm; to the players, this was the championships. The ice was clean and ready for puck drop. And as soon as the 47’s hit the ice, all could tell that they were carrying over the momentum from the game earlier that morning. They were on fire – passes were tape to tape and they found the back of the net more times than Whitby. They had won the championships!!!
After the final game, the players attended a medal presentation where each player received a medallion for participating in the Niagara Falls 2019 Jamboree.
The hardest working warriors of the games were Ava McGrath, Ethan Cui and the birthday boy Trevor Scott.
The entire weekend was a success both on and off the ice. The team played their hearts out and continued to build and foster the friendships that had started at the beginning of the season. This team continues to surprise their coaches, parents and spectators, and everyone is thrilled to see what the remainder of 2019 has in store.