Most tournaments hosted by Jasper teams are a simple transaction. Managers invite teams from near and far; teams that are not typical league opponents, but come from places you have to look up on the map. At the same time tournaments raise money to fund ice times and road trips for the season.
But, for the Jasper PeeWee Bears this weekend, there was much more to the equation. It was a chance to showcase their talent and heart to a hometown crowd and create lasting memories that will mean much more than their play on the ice.
This time around, two teams from Grande Prairie (Redneckz and GeoCon), the St. Albert Menace, and the St. Charles Storm showed up in Jasper to take on our hometown Bears. Six teams, two pools, nine games over two days, with three “finals”, one overall victor and, regardless of the outcomes, about 75 kids with smiles on their faces and hundreds of moments that will live forever.
It all started for the Bears bright and early on Saturday morning against the Menace from St. Albert. The Bears had plenty of jump in the first period and, backstopped by Kelan Polard, held the high-scoring Menace to two goals in the opening frame, while Matteo Tassoni scored for the Bears.
The Menace doubled the Bears again in the second period, scoring four goals versus two Jasper markers from the impressive Troy Jackson and persistent Trenton Rea. Down by three going into the final 20 minutes, Jasper needed to reach deep to pull this one out against the team that would be the eventual tournament winners.
And reach Jasper did.
Polard saved everything but one shot in the third, while the Bears’ triggermen Tassoni and Jax Kading combined for five goals, to give the Bears a one goal edge when the final buzzer sounded. This was a huge, emotional victory for a Bears team that has been struggling to get in the win column as of late.
Scheduling had Jasper on the ice for the very next game against the St. Charles Storm.
For the pros, playing back-to-back means two games in two days, but in a tournament it can mean one game right on the heels of another.
Led by Trey Delver, the Storm’s eventual player of the game, the Storm was able to take advantage of a tired Jasper squad, blanking the Bears through two periods, while scoring four themselves.
Although this game’s netminder for the Bears, Duncan McLeod, held St. Charles to one goal amidst a storm of shots in the third; Tassoni and Kading scored goals in the final five minutes of the game; and Jasper’s MVP Tyler Carleton was outstanding on defense, it would all prove insufficient.
A one and one record landed Jasper in the “B” final on Sunday against the Grande Prairie Redneckz (sic). Jasper was not messing around in this game. Eric MacMahon was on the ice for the Bears and was a dominant force. He scored Jasper’s first, third, seventh and eighth goal of the game, while Jackson got four himself and Tassoni got a hattrick and five assists (that’s eight points!).
Jasper’s 11 goals easily outmatched the Redneckz 3, earning the Bears the “B” final trophy. Aidan Deagle and McLeod, who shared goaltending duties, were outstanding, as was the Jasper defense led by Polard, Olivia Fonger, Josh Howes and
Justin McIsaac. Although not on the scoresheet, Bears’ wingers Camas D’Antonio and Hayden Derbowka were the fuse that ignited Jasper’s bomb in their two victories, outworking opponents and creating space for the shooters.
With their tournament in the books, the PeeWees now head on the road to begin their playoff run. Fox Creek is their first stop to take on the ninth place Bulldogs (no “z”).
Thanks to all the volunteers who made the weekend an unforgettable one for kids and parents alike.
John Wilmshurst
Special to the Fitzhugh
