NEWS

17U Boys Play Up In 18U Tournament.

By: Wes Chen

After a long drive and a good night’s sleep, the 17U Roos Black were good to go at the 18U McGregor Cup in Sudbury. With only 3 teams in their pool, the matches were played 3 sets, all up to 25 points. First match up was the Spartans from Minesing. The team was playing their first tournament together and started off a bit dull. Though not executing to the fullest of their abilities, the Roos Black took the set. The following sets showed signs of steady improvement in their passing and execution, and easily took the win.

Next up was the newly formed TSX Blues 18U, one of the top three teams in the province. The team played right up to their level, fighting hard with players like National Team starter Graeme Higgins. After trading paint with the TSX Blues, the Roos Black fell a bit short losing 25-20. The second set continued just like the first and great jump serving from Minh pushed the team forward to take the set 25-23. The third set was crucial, and decided the 1st and 2nd place placing in the pool. The Roos Black made a few errors at the start of the set and was behind going into the middle of the game. They did not give up and continued to fight back, but TSX took the third set 25-19.

Still not feeling like they were playing to their full potential, the Roos Black went into their pre-quarters match against the Barrie Elites, who placed last in their pool. The match began with the Roos Black pulling ahead to a big lead. However, concentration slipped and the Roos Black allowed the Elites to have a comeback in the 20s. The team had to fight to close the match 25-23, with a perfect pass from Alex finishing in a hard quick kill in the middle from Anthony. The second match began just like the first and the Roos Black were soon ahead of the Elites. Concentration slipped once more, and this time the Roos Black were unable to execute and close out the match, dropping the second set 25-23. With the Elites on fire and blocking trouble on the Roos side of the net, the Roos Black lost the upset of the tournament 15-11.

Disappointment in losing to a team much weaker than them, and losing a chance of playing more great teams was a bitter taste after such a long drive down from Ottawa. The Barrie Elites went on to win the silver medal at the tournament, losing to the TSX Blues 18U in the finals, a team the Roos Black played neck in neck with.

Finishing the earliest ever, the team headed back to North Bay, where they were staying for a second night after being unable to cancel their hotel reservations. Eating dinner at Don Cherry’s, Alex, Hussein, Wesley, Minh and Curtis found out that waiter had once played high school and was a three time ‘AA’ OFSAA champion with his high school. His team had great matches with the ‘AAA’ OFSAA champions, Brookfield High School. Brookfield was a team that had multiple provincial players that year, including the Roos 17U own assistant coach, Damien Trudel. Forming a Sudbury-North Bay club team, the waiter’s club team then went on to defeat Paul Duerden’s Forest City in the Ontario Championship finals.

The rest of the night was spent relaxing, swimming in the pool and soaking in the hot tub: a night that included mooning the coaches and parents from the window and Bruce seeing the ‘dark side of the moon’. Though the results were not what was expected, every tournament is a learning experience and the Roos Black will continue to train hard for tournaments yet to come.

Photos coming soon!

 

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