Atom AA Hounds level it up
Playing up a level resulted in a credible showing for a Sault Ste. Marie team at the International Silver Stick Hockey Tournament that was held in Sarnia on the weekend.
Atom AA Soo Jr. Greyhounds were invited to compete against AAA division teams at the Silver Stick finals. The Soo team earned the right to play up a level against top AAA atom squads from Ontario and the United States based on the fact that the local unit is the no. 1 ranked AA club in the province, a position it has held since early November.
In all, the atom AA Jr. Greyhounds played four games against AAA teams — Toronto Marlboros, Toronto Red Wings, Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs and the American-based Krivo School of Hockey — and came away with a record of 1-2-1. Two of the three losses were by one goal.
Atom AA Jr. Greyhound players include goalies Dalton Hoornstra and Payton Melchiorre, defensemen Hayden Joseph, Cameron Kontulainen, Owen Sanderson, Carter Kucher, Luca Blonda and Colton Huckson and forwards Espen Escasa, Aiden Atkinson, Cole Wreggitt, Gavin Killoran, Brock Chitaroni, Danny MacDonald, Evan Headrick, Nikolas Rossetto and Nathan Dupuis.
The atom AA Jr. Hounds are coached by Terry Chitaroni, David Doucette, Chris Huckson, Nathan Hebert, Michael Caruso and Dave Headrick. James Sanderson is the trainer and the manager is Ray Escasa.
Next up for the Soo squad are the Northern Ontario Hockey Association championships, which are slated to take place March 8-10 in Sudbury.