Dec. 27, 2012 was the day to skate off the Christmas dinners and desserts in the 1st annual Wingham Novice Local League tournament. You could say the kids came out a little slow for their first game, at 8:00 a.m., against Lucknow, but they were just keeping the fans on the edge of their seats.
They did so until the third period when they started to put some points on the scoreboard with two goals scored by Caleb MacLean with assists going to Griffin Dickson on the first goal and Cameron TeRaa and Dickson on the second. Justin Keyes was strong in net, and found himself with the shut out and a final score of 2 - 0.
TeRaa, Ben Speer, Zackary Sweiger and Evan DeJong were kept busy on defence in game two against Ripley. Ripley scored first but it wasn’t for the lack of trying by Wingham forwards Charity Smith and Damian McBurney.
Even though Wingham’s TeRaa and MacLean found the back of the net, with assists going to Tyler Becker and Zakary O’Handly; Ripley would secure their lead with an empty netter and a final score of 4-2.
Now Wingham had to sit and wait their fate. The game between Ripley and Lucknow would decide whether Wingham played in the “A” or the “B” final. Ripley and Lucknow would tie at a goal a piece, giving Ripley one more point and sending Wingham to the “B”.
Not all was lost. Spirits were high and the kids were pumped and ready to meet Howick in the “B” championship game.
Hats off - literally go to Becker who scored a Hat-Trick with assists going to Smith, O’Handley, Jaxon Breckenridge and TeRaa.
A couple of Howick shots did cross the goal line but Wingham stayed strong, worked as a team, and won the “B” Division title with a final score of 3-2.
The trophies keepsakes were an extra Christmas thrill for the kids. They went home ecstatic but, tired and looking forward to plenty of hockey in 2013.