By @MichaelCaples –
Thanksgiving weekend served as a time for food, family and football for most.
For the Compuware 16U team, it was about capturing a tournament title they’ve long been searching for.
The group that has recorded a Quebec International Pee Wee championship and a USA Hockey national championship won the International Silver Stick title this past weekend, adding another accomplishment to their list of hockey accolades.
To capture the prestigious ‘silver stick’ trophy, the Compuware 16U boys beat a Don Mills Flyers squad that had not lost a game all season. Ranked No. 1 in Ontario, the Flyers were 34-0-0 heading into the contest.
Compuware posted an undefeated record of its own, recording the following wins en route to a championship:
- Compuware 2, Quinte Red Devils 1
- Compuware 3, Hamilton Bulldogs 2
- Compuware 5, Toronto Nationals 2
- Compuware 5, Pittsburgh Penguins 1
- Compuware 3, Mississauga Rebels 2 (quarterfinals)
- Compuware 5, Toronto Marlboros 2 (semifinals)
- Compuware 5, Don Mills Flyers 4 (championship, OT)
Noah Laba scored the game-winning goal in overtime in the championship contest; here’s a video clip:
In overtime, a fantastic drive to the net by Redmond Savage would result in Noah Laba picking up the rebound to win the game for Compuware. First loss of the year for the Flyers. #OHLDraft pic.twitter.com/RjdgW6hS30
— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisNHL) November 26, 2018
As well as the tying goal from Jackson Truchan:
Tyler Duke was, in my opinion, Compuware’s best player, and perhaps the best two-way defenceman in this game. His shot led to a rebound that Jackson Truchan would pick up to tie the game up at three with 10 minutes remaining. Compuware would take the momentum after that #OHLDraft pic.twitter.com/jFacKuSMwT
— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisNHL) November 26, 2018
Sasha Pastujov, a Notre Dame commit and youngest brother of NTDP/Michigan forwards Nick and Michael, was named tournament MVP after recording 16 points in seven games. Linemate Dylan Duke, a Michigan commit, finished second in the tournament scoring race with 14.