Peewee Lightning close out season with tournament win

The Caledon Lightning peewee Select team recently won the Bolton Masters Tournament.

The Caledon Lightning peewee Select team, having finished the regular season on top as league and playoff champions, played a final tournament at the Bolton Masters last weekend.

The first game was Friday afternoon against their home-town rivals Caledon Blackhawks. The Lightning won 4-1. It was a very hardfought and physical game, but the players were able to keep it clean. Goals were scored by Patrick Bourne, Christian Brugger, Kristian Balinov and Hayden Gorman, assisted by Michael Sheridan, Charlie Hird (with two), Kyle Milik, Mitchell Lovell and Bourne.

The second game was Saturday afternoon against Markham in another tough, physical game, which the lightning won 4-2. Caledon goalie PJ Moratti played a tremendous game, robbing Markham of many opportunities. Cody Tremblay had two goals, Milik and Bourne notched singles, assisted by Bourne (with a pair), Michael Tepper, Christian Brugger and Sheridan.

The third match was Saturday evening, as the Lightning faced off against Erin-Hillsburgh. With confidence and discipline, the Lightning were relentless at both ends, winning the game 9-1. Balinov and Tyler Tiessen each scored twice, with singles coming from Gorman, Bourne, Tremblay, Milik and Luke McAree. Sheridan, McAree, Christian Brugger and Tepper each had a pair of assists, with one each being earned by Dylan Yandeau, Tremblay, Alex Brugger and Lovell.

The final was held Sunday morning and again Caledon Lightning faced Caledon Blackhawks. Building on their winning performances and incredible season, the Lightning team went from strength to strength, with excellent passes, and text-book play. The Blackhawks hustled hard, but each and every player on the Lightning team put forward tight-knit action.

Lightning's Hayden Gorman scored 11 seconds into the first period, making the trend very clear. The goal was assisted by Brugger and Tiessen. Further goals by Sheridan, Lovell and Christian Brugger, assisted by Milik, Christian Brugger (with two), Gorman and Alex Brugger brought the final score to 4-0.

Lightning goal-tenders Moratti and Ryan Woodworth shared the final shut out.

"This rounds off the season nicely," commented Coach Mike Sheridan. "Today's final was far and away the best game the team played."

The final stats of this team are amazing. Regular season games and playoffs show the team won 22, lost three, and tied two. They achieved 100 goals for, eight shutouts, and saw only 46 goals against and were shutout just once.

"I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to coach a dedicated and disciplined group of boys," the coach added. "The support of the parents and siblings this year is unmatched with a bench staff committed to every player. This is truly a year to remember."