The 2nd Annual Max Winters Memorial Trappers Cup took place at the EJ Broomfield Arena on Monday March 19th in what was a fun night of ‘old timers’ hockey!
Players from the days of the past took to the ice to represent the towns of Happy Valley-Goose Bay (HVGB) and North West River (NWR) in an ‘older timers’ match. The travelling support for North West River were in strong numbers and they sure made some noise throughout the duration of the game.
Before the puck dropped and players competitive spirit was engaged, the crowd was treated to a solo performance of ‘Ode to Labrador’ by the multitalented George Way who then joined the rest of his Happy Valley-Goose Bay team mates for the commencement of the match.
When the game started you could tell that the players from both teams wanted to show off their skills of yesteryear but played the game in a ‘friendly competitive manner’…. Well that lasted for about the first 5 minutes before both teams settled in and were doing their best to outplay their opponents.
The opening goal of the game was scored by NWR, well actually it was scored by a HVGB player who passed the puck back to the Goaltender, who was looking in the other direction and slid into the back of the net.
NWR were relentless in the forward pressure, which eventuated in their second goal of the period scored by Rod Beales who took the puck from his own blue line and danced down the ice, skating in and out of traffic to flick the puck past the HVGB goal tender to make it a 2-0 game.
The HVGB team were persistent and moved the puck well, setting up several chances to get themselves on the scoreboard if not for the great net work of the NWR goal tender. When HVGB turned the puck over in the NWR zone, they were slow getting back to defend, allowing NWR to rush up on the HVGB net. This resulted in a third goal for the NWR team, scored by Kevin Butt who skated onto the puck through the HVGB blue line and was left one on one with the HVGB goal tender who he sent left while shooting the puck low to the right side of the net.
At the end of the first period of play, the scoreboard was NWR – 3, HCGB – 0.
During the first intermission break, the crowd were presented with a figure skating display from Taylor Clements-Newman and Kristy Swyer from the Snowflake Figure Skating Club.
The second period started much in the same way as the first period ended, with NWR scoring just 60 seconds, scored by Allister Michelin who received a pass in the centre of the ice, displayed some slick puck handling before slotting it past the goal tender with a low wrist shot into the back of the net.
With NWR holding a 4-0 lead, the outcome of the match looked like a forgone conclusion, but this didn’t stop the HVGB team from giving up.
Almost half way through the second period, HVGB player, Glenn Pitman was on the end of an almost length of the ice pass from the HVGB goal tender, who then centred it across to Patrick Adams who shot the puck between the NWR goal tenders pads for the first goal of the game for HVGB.
The joy of scoring their first goal was short lived when NWR restored their four-goal advantage with Dennis Michelin scoring the fifth goal for NWR with six minutes left in the period. Soon after, a penalty was called against HVGB for having too many players on the ice, this sent NWR to the power play, however it was the HVGB team that scored short handed with a goal from Gerry Dyson.
The NWR team was given another opportunity to go on the powerplay with 1.38 minutes remaining on the clock, when HVGB player, Rick Pottle was sent to the penalty box for tripping, but in a case of déjà vu, Heather Callaghan scored for the HVGB team shorted handed sending the puck, high glove side to bring the score back to 5-3 with 57 seconds remaining of the second period.
That’s how the score line ended heading into the third period. With a two-goal advantage with almost seven minutes gone in the third period, Larry Pottle of HVGB squeezed the puck between the goal post and the goalies glove to bring the deficit back to a one goal game.
The contingent of NWR supporters who were congregated inside the EJ Broomfield Arena stepped up their support, shouting and chanting for their team, you could almost see it happen, the level of intensity and competitiveness stepped up a level, the players were engaging in more physicality out on the ice, with the score at 5-4 to NWR, the players knew that the match was not over yet.
With just over five minutes remaining, Hooker Broomfield scored with an assist from Patrick Adams to tie the game at five goal each. The final five minutes were hectic, with Kevin Butt of NWR having a chance to win the match with his shot on goal beating the goal tender but rebounding off the top cross bar.
The match headed into sudden death overtime, five minutes to decide the winner, and the winning goal came with just 51 seconds left of the OT period, scored by the NWR ‘Player of the Match’, Allister Michelin.
What a great night of entertainment, at times some of the players minds were not in sync with their bodies, but the standard and quality of hockey on display was commendable.
Members of Max Winters family were in attendance to present to Winning Trophy and the Player MVP awards. Young Aiden Wheeler, grandson of Max Winters had the privilege of being on the HVGB team bench for the duration of play, a nice bit of recognition for the Winters Family.
Marlene Winters Wheeler, daughter of Max Winters told The Labradorian “Dad was always involved in various executive committees of different sporting organisations, like minor hockey, softball, broomball, he got involved because he just wanted to contribute to making the community the best it could possibly be for the youth and everyone else in it”.
“We grew up as kids around different sporting events, he was extremely passionate about people being involved in sports and recreation activities and trying to support it by volunteering and providing as much support as he could."
When asked about how it felt to know that Max Winters was being recognised by having the Trappers Cup names after him, Winters said “Dad never had any expectation that he would have anything named after him, he didn’t do it for that reason. As a family we feel grateful that there are organisations out there that want to recognise Dad for what he has done over that he course of nearly 50 years of volunteering, it touched our hearts and showed us that others acknowledge the contributions he has made.”
By the time the players from both teams have had a chance to recover, and get their bodies back into action, it will just about be time for the playing of next years event!
craig_wallace@ymail.com
