On Saturday, Jan. 16, the Mount Forest Novice Reps traveled to Durham to participate in their annual tournament, and triumphantly returned home as consolation champions.
The Rams played their first game against Flesherton, and came out a little flat with a narrow 2-0 loss. The second game saw the boys playing a familiar foe in Hanover, and they made their return to the win column with a sweet 5-2 victory.
Ty Duncan scored first for Mount Forest, assisted by Gavyn Stevenson, with a big shot from the point that found the back of the net. The locals then went up 2-0 on a William Black goal, assisted by Anthony Kelly. Hanover managed to get one past goalie Morgan Troyer, to make it 2-1 after the first period.
Thomas Brown scored in the second, unassisted, only to have Hanover counter with a goal of their own. It was a tight 3-2 game heading into the third period, but the Rams sealed the victory with some solid play. Brown scored goal number four, assisted by Rourke Elliott and Evan Dewar and Black topped off the win on a Stevenson feed.
The win over Hanover guaranteed the boys another shot at the championship, and a tangle with Cayuga. Mount Forest opened the scoring on a goal by Brown, assisted by Elliott, but Cayuga tied it up to narrow it to 1-1 after the first period.
The boys had a letdown in the second period, falling behind 3-1 heading into the third, where Morgan Troyer came up with some big saves to keep his team in it. The defence of Duncan, Alex Iles, Sam Bye and Tanner Gordon was stellar in shutting down Cayuga's shooters.
Mount Forest cut into the lead on a goal by Black, assisted by Iles, and then Alex roofed a shot of his own to make it 3-3 with 4:03 left. Then, with two minutes left, Brown backhanded a Kelly helper over the Cayuga goalie. The fantastic comeback goal gave the Rams the 4-3 win.
Brown was awarded game MVP honours, and the team celebrated their victory over root beer and post-game pizza at Coach Dennis' house.