Hockey Halloween

This weekend the Strongsville Mustangs Mite 3 team played in the Halloween Hockey Tournament in Euclid, Ohio. It was our first tournament and boy was it exciting! On Friday night we arrived at the ice at 4pm ready to face the Euclid team. It was a very tight and intense game. No need to worry not only were the boys playing well, with Denise and Nick leading the way on defense. But with the expert coaching of Coaches Matt Dobriansky and Marc Pignataro the boys were able to create great scoring chances which led to hat tricks by Andras as well as Zach.

With a 7-6 win over Euclid the boys were ready to face the Mahoning Valley Phantoms.

The game again was edge of the seat exciting. Coach Matt even pulled the goalie at the end of the second period to try and create an additional scoring chance. While we were all absolutely confident in his decision, I can't say that we weren't nervous anytime one of their players touched the puck. We survived the last few seconds of the second period and were able to end the game in a tie.

One thing we've learned about tournament hockey is to expect lack of sleep! After shipping Katie off to Grandma and Grandpa's for the night we headed back to Euclid at 5:30 AM to face Cleveland Heights. The boys were able to control the game, which allowed our coaches the chance to change things up and give all the players a chance to play different positions. It was really exciting to watch one of our boys who usually plays defense take a few face offs. I showed him the pictures I took of him playing center tonight. I told him I was so excited that he was getting to play another position for a while I couldn't help but snap....10 pictures of it!

We one that game 8-1!

What a thrill for the boys when Coach Marc told them in the locker room after the game that they were going to be playing in the Championship round! I wish I could have seen their faces. This team has learned so much from their coaches in the last few weeks. They still have much to learn, and there will be harder games as well as some that are a bit easier. But to come from beginning the preseason with 7-0, 11-0 and 10-0 losses, adding 3 brand new kids to the team 2 weeks before, to playing in the championship round of a tournament is very exciting for 6, 7 an 8 year olds. Ok, it's exciting for thirty something year olds as well!

So off we ran to church before heading back to Euclid one more time for the 3:45 game. As we gathered in the stands many of us parents talked about how proud we were of our kids, and how nervous we were as well. The team we were facing was the same team we had tied. The team that had just beaten Euclid 11-2. The team that all of us had spent the last few minutes reminding our boys before leaving them in the very capable hands of the coaches to "look out for number 14 and 10!"

The nervousness continued as they took the ice. We yelled and cheered encouraging things to the team. We told them they could do it, we yelled even louder when Anthony scored the first goal or the game. We felt that we could do this. #14 took the ice and the puck, and yes he scored all 5 of his teams goals. He ran his team t0 a 5-2 victory. The thing he was not able to defeat was the Mustang's parents pride in their team.

Our boys came in 2nd at their first ever tournament! Our boys played hard up to the very last second on the clock. Our boys looked to their coaches and listened and tried to follow the instructions they gave. They didn't play perfectly, but they played their hearts out. The took a few penalties as they threw themselves in front of #14 to try and slow him down. Our boys learned a lesson, that made many of them leave the ice in tears. Yet, having spent time with their parents this weekend I know when they got in their cars to head home they were being told how great they had done and how proud they had made us all. No, they didn't win, BUT they came away from the game knowing that they can play as a team, work together and do their best.

I just came from practice tonight where once again they pulled on their jerseys and went out to practice as a team. Preseason is almost over, and there is still a lot more hockey to play. Win or Lose these boys will be learning and growing in their hockey skills under some great coaches. They'll take the ice at each game knowing they can count on their parents to be the loudest, most encouraging fans they will ever find. The last thing we yelled as we left the stands on Sunday was "We're proud of you Mustangs!" and we truly are.