Atom hockey teams converged on the Ponoka Culture and Recreation Complex last weekend to enjoy a fun eight-team hockey tournament.
There were two Ponoka teams that competed against six other atom teams from around central Alberta.
Geoff Tatlow, Ponoka Atom Quality Paints/McDonalds’ coach, says his team had a blast.
Their first game of the tournament was the most memorable, playing against the Maskwacis Hawks. Tatlow says they had the lead but lost momentum as the game kept on.
“We were ahead 4-2 and then they kept coming back and then they were ahead 5-4,” said Tatlow. “We scored with just a minute left to tie it up.”
Tatlow says he pulled his goalie out of the game to try and tie things up. The atom tournament rules were such that there was no over time if teams tied, only a shootout.
Ponoka managed to slip by with a 2-1 shootout win against Maskwacis. “It was certainly an exciting time for them,” the coach said.
Tatlow says tournaments like this are a great way for the team to bond together and develop their unity. He says the team is 2-0-2 in the league.
Ponoka Calnash Trucking’s coach, Chris Palechek, says his team won the finals of the B side of the tournament. Their last game was against the Killam Warriors.
“It was pretty evenly matched there. Right down to the wire,” said Palechek.
The Calnash Trucking narrowly defeated the Warriors with a 4-3 win with the last goal coming 35 seconds left in the game.
“The kids did a great job. They came out every shift trying,” explained Palechek. “Even when they were down, they kept positive and kept trying.”
Palechek says the Warriors are in their tier and he looks forward to competing against them in the regular season. “It came right down to the wire. It was good.”
He thanked the organizers and parents for helping put the tournament together. The Calnash Trucking team is 3-1-0 in the season.