West Ferris Midget AA’s Win In Overtime

(Azilda, ON) - A late overtime goal by Defenseman Jay Pepper (#11) of the Hilltop Variety West Ferris Jr. Skyhawks Midget AA Hockey Team clinched a victory, and the gold, at the Rayside Balfour Minor Hockey Association – 2006 Tigers Invitational Rep Hockey Tournament held in Azilda, Ontario this past weekend.

West Ferris swept through round robin play on Friday/Saturday and won their semifinal early Sunday beating the Sudbury Minor Hockey Association Lockerby Wolves 4–1 to clinch a birth into the final at 4:15 p.m. on Sunday February 12th, 2006. They faced-off against the Walden Red Devils, who edge their way into the final by beating the host Rayside Balford Tigers 3 – 2. West Ferris Jr. Skyhawks regularly play these teams in the Nickel District Minor Hockey League in the Midget AA Division.

West Ferris opened the scoring at the 7:52 mark of the first period from a goal by Captain Andrew Laronde ( #12); assisted by line mates Aaron Kennedy and Dylan Peddle. A second goal at the 2:28 mark by Liam Berti (#18); assisted by Ben Brisson made it 2 – 0 at the end of the first. At the 8:12 mark of the second, Walden’s Scott Dickieson scored to make it 2 – 1. Two (2) minutes later, Aaron Kennedy (#15) broke away during Walden’s power play and notched a short-handed goal (assisted by Andrew Laronde) to make it 3 – 1 West Ferris. Walden scored in the dying seconds of the second period from a goal by Beau Crawford, making it 3 – 2 West Ferris. West Ferris’ Ben Brisson (#14) scored at the 5:29 mark of the third (assisted by Tory Unger) to make it 4 – 2. Walden crept back, later in the period with two markers by Bryan Deacon (a solid left winger #44) with a goal just under three minutes left in the third period and another in the dying seconds to tie the game at 4 all.

Rebounds from Ben Brisson and Tory Unger caused traffic in front of Walden’s goaltender, which provided an opportunity for defenseman Jay Pepper to score in the last minute of the overtime period. 5 – 4 was the final score for West Ferris, winning their first tournament during the 2005 –2006 season. (Note – the teams squared-off, four on four, for the overtime period).

These two teams played disciplined hockey without taking the physical aspects out of the game, tallying six minutes each in penalty minutes.

Both teams will be facing-off during regular season play on Tuesday February 14th, 2006 at West Ferris Arena 8:00p.m.

Submitted to BayToday.ca