AUBURN - It was a long and hard-fought weekend on the Casey Park ice as the Auburn Ice Hawks hosted teams from across Central New York for the annual Auburn Hockey Club Mighty Mite Tournament.
Sam Tenney / The Citizen
Auburn's Billy Graney is pursued by Canandaigua's Noah Schwartz during the third period of Monday's matchup between the two Mighty Mite teams. The teams tied, 4-4.
Auburn's Billy Graney is pursued by Canandaigua's Noah Schwartz during the third period of Monday's matchup between the two Mighty Mite teams. The teams tied, 4-4.
After battling Saturday and Sunday, Auburn's A Division team found itself at the top of the heap, earning 14.5 points to earn the top spot heading into Monday's championship game against the Canandaigua Knights.
The caliber of play the Auburn team displayed all weekend was the culmination of a great deal of hard work and dedication from all the players, displayed to head coach Tim Tubbert and assistant coach Al Morin since the season began.
“They did an awesome job all weekend,” Tubbert said. “They went out there and they gave 110 percent the whole time.”
The team's play was also reflective of the growth these young players have demonstrated throughout the season.
“They have grown a lot,” Morin said. “They have worked really hard and they have gone from little boys in the beginning of the season to young men.” Over the course of Saturday and Sunday, the team faced off against other strong competitors such as Whitestown and Canandaigua, who earned the second-place spot heading into the championship round Monday.
And through the course of those two days, Auburn proved to be the dominant force.
“They outscored their opponent 40 to 8,” Steve Byrne, assistant coach, said. “They played great all through the first round.”
After beating Canandaigua by just two points in what Tubbert called a “close and tough-fought game,” to earn an 8-6 victory, the team was feeling good headed into the championship game against the Knights.
“We were feeling good,” Tubbert said. “We knew it was going to be a good, tough game. They are a good and a well-coached team and we knew it was going to be a good game.”
With a strong display from goalie Austin Fraher, Auburn held the Knights scoreless in the first, but the Knights were able to do the same.
Through the second period, the Knights were able to take control of the puck and get on the board with two goals.
The Ice Hawk's Adam Lupo was able to get out with a fast breakaway to find the net and get Auburn on the board.
Despite an offensive barrage by Auburn that saw them out-shoot Canandaigua 17-9, the Ice Hawks couldn't break the Knight's defense and Canandaigua was able to earn the win, 3-1.
“They played a really good game,” Tubbert said. “It was a good game against a tough team. I think we played a really good, close game, just today they were the better team and they were able to get the win. But I think we stilled played a great game and I'm really proud of all our guys.
The caliber of play the Auburn team displayed all weekend was the culmination of a great deal of hard work and dedication from all the players, displayed to head coach Tim Tubbert and assistant coach Al Morin since the season began.
“They did an awesome job all weekend,” Tubbert said. “They went out there and they gave 110 percent the whole time.”
The team's play was also reflective of the growth these young players have demonstrated throughout the season.
“They have grown a lot,” Morin said. “They have worked really hard and they have gone from little boys in the beginning of the season to young men.” Over the course of Saturday and Sunday, the team faced off against other strong competitors such as Whitestown and Canandaigua, who earned the second-place spot heading into the championship round Monday.
And through the course of those two days, Auburn proved to be the dominant force.
“They outscored their opponent 40 to 8,” Steve Byrne, assistant coach, said. “They played great all through the first round.”
After beating Canandaigua by just two points in what Tubbert called a “close and tough-fought game,” to earn an 8-6 victory, the team was feeling good headed into the championship game against the Knights.
“We were feeling good,” Tubbert said. “We knew it was going to be a good, tough game. They are a good and a well-coached team and we knew it was going to be a good game.”
With a strong display from goalie Austin Fraher, Auburn held the Knights scoreless in the first, but the Knights were able to do the same.
Through the second period, the Knights were able to take control of the puck and get on the board with two goals.
The Ice Hawk's Adam Lupo was able to get out with a fast breakaway to find the net and get Auburn on the board.
Despite an offensive barrage by Auburn that saw them out-shoot Canandaigua 17-9, the Ice Hawks couldn't break the Knight's defense and Canandaigua was able to earn the win, 3-1.
“They played a really good game,” Tubbert said. “It was a good game against a tough team. I think we played a really good, close game, just today they were the better team and they were able to get the win. But I think we stilled played a great game and I'm really proud of all our guys.
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