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Sargent Cancer Charity for Children
4th Annual
3 on 3 Tournament -
£560.00 Raised
The Chelmsford Chargers held another 3-0n-3 tournament on 2nd April for charity, and it did not disappoint. The squad was separated into 4 teams of 6 or 7 skaters plus a goaltender, with each team boasting both 'here and now' and 'up and coming' talent.
The tournament consisted of each team facing off against each other once, followed by the medal round, all games lasting 8 minutes. The competition was so great that the medal round began with 3 teams being separated by goal-difference. The first team, named the Puck Whackers, featured a solid blue-line presence in Russell Rickett and Goetz Stiffel, as well as experienced scoring threat Richard Webber, who lit the lamp better than he has done for over 2 seasons. The Puck Whackers picked up 2 wins in their first three games, including a spectacular last-second goal from Webber, downing the eventual winners of the tournament, the Stick Slashers.
With a great combination of tenacity and goal-scoring flair, the Stick Slashers won the tournament thanks to great creativity from star forwards Chris Goddard and Darren McCarty 'wannabe', Stewart Judd. These two were joined by a great defensive pairing of Craig Ford and promising blue-liner Sam Blackwell. However, the performance of some of the Chargers' best players was overshadowed by Justin Daw, who was putting on a clinic in net as the inexperienced goalie made stop after stop, thwarting the top guns of every other team.
Goddard and Judd's usual linemate Darren Wakeling was the cornerstone of the night's most impressive offensive tandem: Andy Malyon, Wakeling, and Stuart Pearson, of the Glory Boys. Together these three fired more rubber at opposing goaltenders than any other players on the night, each unleashing a rocket of a slap shot whenever necessary. The Glory Boys games also had a solid backstop in Chargers number 1 goaltender Andy 'Speedy' Smith, who showed again how he earned the responsibility.
The eventual 4th place team, the Goal Crashers unfortunately couldn't live up to their name, putting just one goal on the board in their first 3 games. Lacking offensive punch, defensive presence, and support for netminder Alex Bradshaw, the Crashers failed to put up much of a fight against the other 3 groups.
Tension was at a peak going into the medal round as the Puck Whackers missed out on the gold medal playoff on goal differential, facing off against the Goal Crashers, followed by the final matchup between the Stick Slashers and the Glory Boys. The Goal Crashers solved most of their woes going into the bronze medal game, getting great performances from their 'up & coming' core. Luck just wasn't on their side though as a soft goal from the point scored by chargers assistant coach Russell Rickett was insurmountable. The Puck Whackers' solid blue line and goaltending kept the Crashers off the scoreboard for the entire game.
The gold medal game saw the Chargers first line stars locking horns as each defensive corps was put under relentless pressure. Yet again though it was Stick Slashers' goalie Justin Daw who stole the limelight, shutting out the night's most threatening offensive threesome to secure the gold medal for his team. Thanks particularly to the efforts of Chris Goddard and Craig Ford, the Slashers netted 3 in the game, concluding the tournament in great style.
The night ended with a light-hearted penalty shootout competition, having Russell Rickett leave with the golden puck trophy and the best celebration of the night.
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