Photo Karen Graham.
Millbrook players face off against the Muskoka Rock at the Peterborough Memorial Centre in the Atom Liftlock Tournament where they remained undefeated until the finals.
One of the highlights of any minor hockey player is playing in a tournament. Atom level players ages 10 to 11 have the opportunity to play in a monster tournament just for their division: the Peterborough Atom Liftlock Tournament. Now in its 63rd year, this tournament welcomed back players from 87 teams after a two year Covid hiatus to play in the four day event. Four days if the team reaches the playoffs, that is. Millbrook Minor Hockey’s rep team did just that, meeting the Douro Dukes in the finals on Sunday at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.
According to tournament organizers, the event has evolved, accommodating as many as 116 teams from across Ontario, Quebec and some from the U.S. at its peak. Participants join hockey legends including Eric Lindros, Bob Gainey, Steve Larmer and Wayne Gretzky who also competed in this major minor hockey event.
This year the teams were divided into eleven Divisions based on team skills and their club’s classification, consisting of four to fourteen teams. Millbrook’s team competed in a group of six teams, playing three teams over two days in the round robin. They secured a solid win of 6-2 over their first opponent, the Muskoka Rock, followed by two closer competitions where they won by a single goal, first at the Peterborough Memorial Centre where they edged out the Newcastle Stars 2-1 after their opponent’s second goal scored after the final whistle was disallowed. Later that day, Millbrook faced off first game was against the Lakefield Chiefs on home ice, where they hung on to a shutout despite back-to-back penalties in the last few minutes of play, advancing the team to the semi-finals scheduled for twelve hours later.
Millbrook pressed through another close game against the Ennismore Eagles early Sunday morning, earning their second shut-out of the tournament and advancing to the division finals where they faced off against the other undefeated team in their division: the Douro Dukes. The division stats warned that the match would likely be a tough competition. While both teams were undefeated, Douro had racked up a whopping 19 spread in goals for and against in the first four games of the tournament compared to Millbrook’s six points. Undeterred, Millbrook put up a strong effort, scoring two goals against a team that had only given up two during the previous four games of the event but in the end, Douro prevailed.
Intense competition with unfamiliar teams makes hockey tournaments very exciting for players and spectators, and can build comradery and team spirit. The unpredictability of play which is already high in young teams ratchets up when facing an unknown opponent, and playing in a facility that is home to a professional league adds to the sense of occasion.
Participants can also feel good about the funds raised through this event, which donates each year to a local charity, which have including organizations such as Big Brothers & Sisters Association, Five Counties Children’s Centre and the PRHC. This year, the Autism Central East Ontario was selected as this year’s beneficiary, receiving a donation of $2500 from tournament organizers.
This tournament success is good preparation for the next hurdle in the Millbrook U11 Rep team’s schedule: Play-offs begin next week. Good luck, everyone! KG
