South Oxford Storm U14 A qualify for Silver Stick International

The Roulston’s Pharmacy U14 A South Oxford Storm qualified for the International Silver Stick championship tournament in Markham during the second week of January, with a 5-0 record at their qualifier draw in Coburg. (Contributed Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Echo Correspondent

The Roulston’s Pharmacy U14 A South Oxford Storm have already met coach Adam’s Hunter’s primary 2024/25 goal.

And then some.

“They’re finding themselves, finding some confidence and having a great time doing it,” he summed up in arrears of an International Silver Stick tournament qualifer tournament victory in Coburg the second week of November.

Hunter has been coaching members of the same group for the past three seasons, the last two as a South Oxford Storm entry featuring athletes from both Ingersoll and Tillsonburg. Last year, the squad qualified for three tournament finals, heartbreakingly finishing as finalist in each.

This season, the U14 Storm opened with a come-from-behind tournament victory over Woolwich at Hespeler, backed this success up with a win in their own South Oxford draw and rounded the hat-trick at the Silver Stick qualifier level at Coburg.

“They’ve got themselves over the hump, which is great to see,” said Hunter.

The Storm opened pool play at Coburg with a comfortable 8-1 win over the Ottawa West Golden Knights, a result predicted by the teams’ respective provincial rankings.

“It was great to get our feet underneath us,” said Hunter.

South Oxford upped its record to 2-0 with a 4-0 shutout of the Whitby Wildcats, who said Hunter provided ‘a solid challenge.’ The Roulston’s Pharmacy U14’s final pool play game offered an opportunity for the Storm to expand their experience in their first year of body-checking and special teams play (power-play and penalty-killing), up against a large Quinte West Golden Hawks team.

“It was a real physical game,” said Hunter of a 4-1 win.

South Oxford faced the Perth Wings in semi-finals, scoring early and taking a 2-1 lead out of the first period against a competitive squad.

“They hung in there and played us tough,” said Hunter.

However, the Storm kept on coming, taking advantage of pressure deep in the Perth zone to eventually wear the Wings down en route to a 6-1 victory.

Nate Bozang opened scoring for the winners and finished with two goals, and Liam Peters, Rydan Bonifacio, Ederson Hodges and Kaelen Howard added a marker apiece, with Peters (2), Hodges and Howard contributing assists.

Despite entering the final with an impressive 4-0 record, 18 goals for and just three against, South Oxford took nothing for granted while facing off against a familiar foe. At Hespeler, the Woolwich Wildcats opened up an early 3-0 lead before the Storm rebounded to eventually take the tournament title.

The script was flipped at Coburg, the traditionally slow-starting Storm building a 3-0 advantage through the game’s opening five minutes.

“They came out flying and had a great start,” credited Hunter.

However, as expected, the Wildcats responded.

“They pushed back really hard.”

South Oxford carried a 4-2 lead out of the second, and while Woolwich pulled within a single goal with 2:23 remaining in regulation time, the Storm was able to close out a 4-3 Silver Stick International berth-clinching victory.

“It was great to see,” Hunter summed up.

Bonifacio finished with two goals for South Oxford, Sam Hunter and Howard a goal each, and Lucas Thompson, Peters and Miles Botzang an assist apiece.

Ranked fourth provincially at their level as of December 5th, South Oxford boasted an overall record of 25-3-0, including a 9-1-0 mark in Shamrock League action.

Hunter says the team has a high skill level, his approach getting them comfortable with both systems and body checking while focussing on continued learning and development as the season advances.

“Working with our speed is one of our biggest things,” said Hunter. “We spend a lot of time on special teams too.”

The addition of four skaters and transition/development of three former forwards on defence has given the U14 A Storm greater depth and flexibility the coach continued.

“That has really benefitted us in some of our tournaments.”

The International Silver Stick A final tournament will be contested the third week of January in Markham.

“There are some quality teams in it for sure,” said Hunter, including Woodstock, which South Oxford has a 1-1 record against this season. “They will be a tough opponent for us.”

However, the Storm is looking forward to the event with both confidence and expectations at a high level.

“It will be a challenge no doubt about it, but I think it’s one the boys will be ready for by that point of the season,” Hunter concluded.