Beaver Sports
The Napanee Crunch kicked off the new year in style as three of their teams captured the title at the Belleville Bearcats annual tournament.
The Atom B Crunch after winning the title in Belleville. Submitted photo.
The United Restaurant/Allegiance General Contracting Atom B Crunch won their division at the Bearcats tournament, marking their third tournament win of the season.
Game 1 was a 3-0 win over the Russell Coyotes, followed by a 2-2 tie with Carleton Place Cyclones, a 2-1 win over the Kemptville Storm and a 1-0 win over the Cornwall Typhoons, giving Napanee a bye to the final.
Yakowénnare Brant earned the shutout.
The gold medal game was a tight checking game. Napanee scored in the second period. The Typhoons responded in the third to tie it up, 1-1. Overtime would solve nothing, so the game went to a shootout. After still being deadlocked after three shooters, it went so sudden death shootout. It took another two shooters to put this one in the books. Claire Clapp scored the shootout winner on a nice backhand and Logan Smith got the win in goal.
Napanee’s Midget BB Crunch also took the top spot at the Belleville Bearcats tournament. Submitted photo.
–The Midget BB Crunch were also champions of the Belleville Bearcats New Years Classic.
Game 1 was a 6-0 win over the Gloucester-Cumberland Stars, followed by a 1-0 loss to the Lakeshore Lightning.
They rebounded with a 3-0 win over the Carleton Place Cyclones, a 2-2 tie with the Nepean Wildcats and a 4-1 win in the finals over the Nepean Wildcats.
-The Bantam BB Crunch were the third Napanee team to capture a title at the Belleville Bearcats New Years Classic.
They opened the tournament with a 4-0 win over the Carleton Place Cyclones. Keyra Herrington earned the shutout. Goals came from Morgan Hennessey, Gracie Hughes and Kaylee Brooks. Assists by Hennessey, Charley Weir, Hailey Lay, Hughes (two) and Bethany Foster.
Game 2 was a 3-0 win over the Smiths Falls Cubs. Aleaha Mallette earned the shutout. Goals by Lay, Kristen Sutton and Abby Birdsell. Lila Pringle had two assists.
Next was a 3-1 win over the Rome Grizzlies. Herrington got the win. Goals by Gracie Hughes, Kaylee Brooks and Claire McConnell. Assists by Birdsell and Maeve Kennedy.
In the semifinals Napanee earned a 1-0 win over the Carleton Place Cyclones. Mallette made several key saves in the third period to preserve the win. The goal was scored by Pringle from Foster.
The final was a chippy game against the Rome Grizzlies with neither team giving in. Hughes wound up from the point with a slap shot which was redirected in front by Birdsell to put the Crunch up 1-0 early in the third period. The Grizzlies responded with four minutes to go on a scramble in front of the net. Overtime would solve nothing, forcing the shootout. The first Grizzlies shooter scored and Napanee’s first shooter was stopped. Keyra Herrington stopped the next shooter with a nice glove save. Kristen Sutton tied it up with a nice deke. Herrington stopped the next shooter who tried to deke blocker side, and Brooks blasted a puck by the Rome goalie for the championship win.
-The Novice B Crunch went undefeated in their tournament. They had to battle back after being down 4-0 to Belleville’s first entry and came out with a 5-4 win. The Crunch had a lopsided victory against Belleville’s second squad coming out with a huge win. Their third game was against Cold Creek on Sunday and the Napanee girls really demonstrated how to play together as a team and came away with a 8-5 win. Players of the game were awarded each game and the Crunch recipients were Emery Cuthill (Game 1), Alyvia Thompson (Game 2), and Talia Eberle (Game 3).