Motown Cup Champs, News, Novice 1, B/BB Rep, 2015-2016, BB (Oakridge Aeros Minor Hockey)

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This Team is part of the 2015-2016 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Feb 16, 2016 | Rich Palser | 3037 views
Motown Cup Champs
The Aeros Novice 1 team traveled to Michigan on Family Day weekend for the 2016 Motown Cup.

We started the tourney off with a convincing 5-1 win over the Guelph Jr Gryphons Minor Atom team (a year older than our boys).  After the game it was off to the hotel for pool time and a pizza party.

Saturday morning brought a very tough match-up with the Trenton Wolfpack who are also a Minor Atom team out of the Little Caesars league in Michigan.  We battled hard and came up a little short losing 4-3 in a nail biter.

Saturday afternoon's game vs the North Olmstead Eagles out of the Cleveland area had to be the strangest game I've been a part of as both a player and coach.  We were up by a lot (8 or 9 to 0) in the 2nd when their goalie lost his mind and was ejected.  Oddly enough they only brought one goalie to the tourney & since the game was out of hand we offered our back-up so we could have a decent 3rd period.  William showed great sportsmanship and agreed to fill in for them doing his best to shut us down with a ton of shots on net (only allowed 1 goal which he claims he "let us score" but I'm not buying it lol).  The final was 10-0 but it would have been far worse.

After the game it was back to the hotel to hit the pool followed by a great team party at Dave & Busters with the Oakridge Aeros Major Atom MD team who were also in the tourney.  Now how do you follow up the strangest game earlier in the day?  You cap it off with the strangest fashion show at the hotel later that evening.  Take my word for it as describing the scene at the Embassy Suites would really do it no justice.  Ask me over a beer at the Oarhouse sometime :)

We finished 2nd in the round-robin setting up a rematch with the 1st place Trenton Wolfpack for the Motown Cup championship.  The game just so happened to be on the same ice (even the same dressing room) that Reider and Ethan's brother's Oakridge Aeros team won the Motown Cup on in Major Novice.  We were definitely feeling the good vibes.  The theme of our season is "Heart and Hustle" and the boys sure brought it for the final.  In my opinion this was their most complete effort of the season buzzer to buzzer.  The passing, teamwork and effort shown in this game were unreal.  All 3 of our goals were created off the cycle that we've been practicing and couldn't have been drawn up better.  The final 2 minutes were played shorthanded, 6 on 4 with their goalie pulled for the extra attacker.  With tenacious pressure, blocked shots, great saves by Will the game's MVP we were able to hold the Wolfpack off and win the 2016 Motown Cup 3-2.

Aside from the winning it my favourite part of the weekend had to be Jayong's 1st goal as an Oakridge Aero.  Jayong moved to Canada from Korea over the summer and was a great surprise at our tryouts last fall.  The Lee's were welcomed to our Aeros hockey family with open arms and to say he's been the most improved hockey player would be an understatement.  Jayong made a great rush from our end, deked multiple players and buried it five hole followed by the entire arena (bench and stands) chanting his name.  I'm sure the folks from Cleveland thought we were nuts but we didn't care.  Everyone was so genuinely happy for him and you couldn't wipe the smile off his face.  This continued back in the dressing room after the game earning him the Aeros championship belt which is awarded each game to our team's hardest worker.  What a cool moment.

3 tournament championships in 1 season is a pretty awesome accomplishment.  I'm very proud to coach these kids and be part of such a wonderful group of people.  These are memories that will last a lifetime for all of us.

Back to work this week in our league playoffs.

Go Aeros!

Coach Rich
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Dr Barb Barnard
Dr. Barnard is originally from Sudbury, Ontario. She relocated to London in 1982 to attend the University of Western Ontario, graduating in 1986 with a BSc. in Science and 1990 with her DDS. Dr. Barnard is married with two children in post-secondary education. She is enjoying a successful career as a recreational dragon boat racer. She also enjoys Moksha yoga and running. She is a member of the CDA, ODA, LDDS and has been president of the Greater London Dental Study Club for more years than she can remember! She cherishes her family, friends and the perfect A frame! Tamara joined the practice as Dr. Barnard's assistant in June 2011. She is originally from Toronto, but is proud of her Jamaican and Newfoundlander heritage! She has four beautiful children, including new additions "Jaxon" who was born on January 6, 2013 and "Youandi" who was born on January 23, 2014. Karen is our receptionist. She has been active in the London dental community for more years than she will admit to! She has two daughters and in her spare time enjoys reading and doting on her granddaughter and her new grandson! After graduating from the University of Toronto dental hygiene program thirty plus years ago, Ruth and her husband moved to Vancouver where she worked in a paediatric dental practice for three years. Unable to live any longer without four distinct seasons, they moved back to southwestern Ontario where they have been ever since. She has worked primarily in general and periodontal dental practices. Two of her favourite pleasures are walking in the bush with her husband and their two Irish Water Spaniels and, having always been a local foodie, opening a jar of home preserved peaches in the middle of January. Caroline graduated from Fanshawe's Dental Hygiene program in 2006. She worked in Nova Scotia for almost one year, then returned home to be closer to friends and family. Caroline's "travel bug nature" has led her as far afield as India, Thailand and Indonesia where she volunteered in an orphanage. In her spare time she enjoys working at home renovating and landscaping as well as yoga, hiking, kayaking and camping in the back country. Congratulations to Caroline on her recent engagement!
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