Four teams earn berth at International Silver Stick

Local teams made hay in the younger age categories as the 2013 edition of the Silver Stick Regional Hockey Tournament wrapped up on Sunday.

A total of three Sudbury and area teams won their gold-medal games, all at either the novice or atom level, with another local entry earning an automatic berth to International Silver Stick competition.

The Nickel City Jr. Sons cruised through the Novice AA schedule, picking up four straight victories by a combined score of 38-3 and capping it off with a 5-1 triumph over the Timmins North Stars.

The Nickel City Select Seven crew encountered much more resistance, trimmed 3-2 by the West Nipissing Sting in their opening game, but turning the tables in the final with a 2-1 win over the Sting.

Finally, the Nickel City Jr. Sons added a third championship to the organizational resume, clipping the Kanata Blazers 6-4 in the final of the Atom AA division.

The trio of teams will be joined by the Nickel City Minor Bantam A Hitmen, awarded an automatic entry to the next stage of Silver Stick competition with no other entries in their division.

Over at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex on Sunday, it was out-of-town teams taking centre stage throughout the afternoon finals. In Midget AA play, Sault Ste. Marie netminder Steven Davies helped keep things close, despite seeing his team outshot 28-8, before the Vaughan Rangers eventually subdued the Root River Rangers 3-1.

Giancarlo Laviola and Tyler Santaguida provided Vaughan with a 2-1 lead and Jack Duff iced the contest with an empty-net goal in the final minute of play, more than offsetting a sole tally from Root River forward Lucas Miller.

Goaltending was also at the forefront of the Minor Midget AA final as Matthew Maccarone turned aside 19 shots for the shutout, receiving offensive support from Jonathan Kuysten and Christopher Carter as the Mississauga Jets edged the Toronto Aeros 2-0.

The Barrie Colts looked extremely impressive in blanking the Ottawa Silver Seven 4-0, garnering the Minor Bantam AA banner in the process.

Noah Milns, Zach Patfield, Jeremy Degeer and Cruz Pazos scored once each, with Zach Levac making 15 saves to hold the Ottawa crew at bay.

The most exicting final of the day, at Countryside, saw the Oakville Rangers trim the Gloucester Rangers 2-1, earning Minor Peewee AA bragging rights as Sean Guerin netted the game-winning goal with just 1:59 to play.

The remaining divisional winners included:

Soo Jr. Greyhounds (Minor Atom AA) - 5-0 vs Nickel City Jr Sons

North Bay Trappers (Atom A) - 3-1 vs Manitoulin Panthers

Kanata Blazers (Minor Peewee A) - 1-0 vs Aurora Tigers

Kapuskasing Angels (Peewee A) - 1-0 vs Oakville Rangers

Upper Ottawa Valley Aces (Peewee AA) - 2-1 vs Toronto Eagles

Oakville Rangers (Bantam A) - 6-1 vs Kapuskasing Ice Hawks

Toronto Penguins (Bantam AA) - 4-3 vs Oakville Rangers