U14 A boys grit their way to win over Norfolk

Owen Pletsch celebrates his goal during the St. Marys Fire Department U14 A Boys St. Marys Rock game on Nov. 20.

By Spencer Seymour

It may not have been easy, but the St. Marys Fire Department U14 A Boys St. Marys Rock were content to earn a gritty 3-1 win over the visiting Norfolk Knights Nov. 20.

Head coach Sean Porter was happy with his team’s showing, which he felt was a good bounce-back after coming up empty handed at their recent Silver Stick tournament.

“I thought they played really well,” Porter told the Independent. “We all were at Silver Stick (last weekend) and they had a couple of games against some top teams, so we just want to keep reminding them, ‘As long as we stay competitive in these games, don't get down on each other and have good body language.’ That’s all we can control. We play in a tough league, so we always have to keep fighting.”

The Rock opened the scoring with just under four minutes left in the first period when Adrian Bes scored the icebreaker with assists by Ben Graham and Landon McDonald. Luke Showers extended the Rock’s lead to 2-0 when he jammed home a loose puck four minutes and six seconds into the second period. Evan Wolfkamp and Jacob Savile recorded the assists.

After Norfolk got one back with a goal just over three minutes into the third frame, St. Marys restored their two-goal lead on a goal by Owen Pletsch, assisted by Nate Hern and Elliott Hudson.

According to Porter, the team’s victory was thanks in large part to their strong compete level.

“I think (tonight’s win) comes down to the boys’ hard work and commitment to each other. We had a couple of AP players up helping us out – Adriaan (Bes) and Lukas (Francis) – because we were missing a couple of our top-line players due to injury. So, they looked at each other before the game and went to work like we wanted them to.”

Porter added the win should serve as a boost as the team begins a crucial leg of their season.

“It was good to get this win. Our upcoming schedule includes a bunch of close teams, so we know that those games will be hard-fought and that these are important points to us. Because of that, getting this win was a good confidence builder for the boys.

“They are starting to find their footing,” continued Porter. “They don't mind getting into those hardnosed battles, and that's what it's going to take to win. We've been working on a lot in practice and getting them used to engaging in those battles so, hopefully, that is going to keep paying off as it did in this one.”