Two Huron Heat teams win gold in at Orangeville Sweetheart Tournament
BY SHAWN LOUGHLIN
Four Huron Heat teams spent last weekend in Orangeville for the 46th annual Sweetheart Tournament and, for three of them, it was time well spent, with two winning gold and a third taking home silver in their respective divisions.
First, the U11 A Huron Heat opened play in Orangeville on Friday with a 1-1 tie with the Collingwood Lightning, followed by a 3-0 shutout win over the Central York Panthers. The next day, the team continued its winning ways with a slim 1-0 victory over the North Simcoe Capitals, punching their tickets to the semi-final round.
There, the team beat the host Orangeville Tigers by a score of 1-0, sending them to the championship game, which saw the locals defeat the Etobicoke Dolphins by a score of 4-1.
Staying in the U11 bracket, but this time with the U11 C Heat, the team began their time in Orangeville on Friday with a 3-1 win over the St. Marys Rock and then a 1-1 tie with the Upper Maitland Mustangs followed by a scoreless tie with the Lambton Attack on Saturday morning followed by a 3-0 win over the Central Perth Predators that evening.
The team then met the Upper Maitland Mustangs again on Sunday morning in the semi-finals, beating them by a score of 2-0. The team kept up that momentum in the championship game, beating the Lambton Attack by a score of 2-0 to win tournament gold.
The U9 B Heat had a great tournament in Orangeville, winning every game the team played until falling in the championship game.
The Heat beat the North Bay Junior Lakers by a score of 5-0 on Friday afternoon followed by a 4-0 win over the host Orangeville Tigers. The next day, the team beat the Georgina Golden Hawks to the tune of 16-0, followed by a 4-1 win over the North Halton Twisters in a game that saw the locals give up their first goal of the tournament.
On Sunday in championship play, the Heat shutout the Mississauga Hurricanes by a score of 5-0, setting up a championship game with the Grand River Mustangs. However, in the finals, the locals fell to the Mustangs by a score of 6-1.
Less fortunate over the weekend was the U18 C Heat, who played in the Orangeville tournament in the U18 B bracket and came home winless.
On Friday, the team lost to the host Orangeville Tigers by a score of 5-0, followed by an 8-1 defeat at the hands of the Central Perth Predators. The next day, the team lost its lone game, falling to the Grand River Mustangs by a score of 4-2.
On Saturday night, the locals then played in the division’s consolation game, taking on the London Devilettes, who beat the Huron team by a score of 4-0.
In playoff action on Sunday, the U11 HL Heat shutout the South Huron Sabres by a score of 4-0 on the road and the U11 B Heat tied the Twin Centre Hericanes at one in Brussels.
On Saturday, four playoff games were on the schedule. First, the U11 B Heat tied the Wilmot Wolverines at one, the U13 C Heat beat the South Huron Sabres by a score of 5-1 and the U13 HL Heat tied the South Huron Sabres at two, all in Seaforth. On the road, the U13 B Heat beat the Devilettes by a score of 3-1 in London. In regular season play, the U7 Heat played the Lucan Irish in Seaforth, but a score was not kept for that game, the U15 BB Heat tied the London Devilettes at one on the road, the U9 HL Heat lost to the Stratford Aces on the road by a score of 6-4, the U13 A Heat lost to the Devilettes in London by a score of 3-0, the U15 A Heat beat the Panthers in St. Thomas by a score of 2-0, the U18 BB Heat beat the Bluewater Hawks by a score of 2-1 in Clinton and the Senior C team played the Wolverines in Wilmot, but a score for that game was unavailable at press time.
On Friday, the Senior C team played Belmore on the road and the U7 Heat took on the St. Marys Rock in exhibition action on the road, but no scores were available for either of those games.
On Monday, Jan. 26, the U15 B Heat travelled to Mildmay for a playoff game with the South Bruce Blades, followed by a regular season game between the U13 A Heat and the Lambeth Lancers in Seaforth the next night and a playoff game between the U15 C Heat and the Mount Forest Rams in Arthur on Thursday, Jan. 29, but scores for those games were unavailable at press time.
Looking ahead, tonight, Friday, Jan. 30, the U9 HL Heat will head to Orangeville in hopes of finding their own success in the annual Sweethearts Tournament, opening with games against the Collingwood Lightning and the Etobicoke Dolphins followed by Saturday games with the Caledon Coyotes and a second Etobicoke Dolphins team, as well as a tournament skills competition.
There is one game on the schedule for tonight, Jan. 30, and it will see the U15 B Heat welcome the Mitchell Meteors to Seaforth for a playoff game.
On Saturday, the U9 C Heat will host a regular season game with the St. Marys Rock and the U9 B Heat will play the Kitchener Lady Rangers, both in Seaforth. In other regular season action, the U18 BB Heat will welcome the Windsor Wildcats to Clinton, the U15 A Heat will play the South Huron Sabres on the road and the U11 A Heat will play the Wildcats in Woodstock.
In playoff action that day, the U13 HL Heat will play the Central Perth Predators on the road, the U11 HL Heat will play the Central Perth Predators on the road, the U13 B Heat will host the Wilmot Wolverines in Seaforth, the U13 C Heat will play the Central Perth Predators on the road and the U18 B Heat will play the Wildcats in Woodstock.
In regular season action the next day, Sunday, Feb. 1, the U15 BB Heat will host the Lucan Irish in Clinton, the U13 A Heat will be in Stratford to play the Aces, the U15 A Heat will play the Sarnia Lady Sting in Clinton, the U7 team will play the Irish in Lucan, the U11 A Heat will play the Woodstock Wildcats in Clinton, the U9 B Heat will play the Woolwich Wild on the road, the U18 BB Heat will play the Belmont Blazers on the road and the Senior C team will host Belmore in Brussels.
In playoff action that day, the U13 B Heat will be in Wilmot to play the Wolverines, the U11 HL Heat will play the Lambeth Lancers on the road, the U13 HL Heat will head to Lucan to play the Irish, the U11 B Heat will play the St. Marys Rock on the road and the U11 C Heat will play the Stratford Aces on the road.
In weekday action, the U11 C Heat will host a playoff game with the Mount Forest Rams and the U13 A Heat will play a regular season game with the Bluewater Hawks, both in Seaforth, while the U9 B Heat will be on the road for a regular season game with the Wilmot Wolverines.
The next day, the U15 C Heat will be in London for a playoff game with the Devilettes followed by a pair of playoff games on Thursday, Feb. 5. The U18 B Heat will host the Twin Centre Hericanes in Blyth and the U13 B Heat will play the London Devilettes in Seaforth.