Wallace Bernard hockey tournament finally comes home.
Membertou pleased with winning this year’s midget championship
It has been two weeks since the 44th Annual Wallace Bernard Memorial Native Youth Hockey Tournament – or #Wallys44 – made its long, long, long-awaited debut on home ice in Membertou.
Two weeks later, there is still a buzz in the air, and one game in particular stood out with the fans.
That game was the Midget Championship game between Membertou and Eskasoni. Both teams met the night before in round-robin action that saw Eskasoni stride to a 4-1 win.
Before I continue, I must note that the 2016 Midget Championship game featured the same two teams. Eskasoni would win that game 6-4, and come into this year’s finals as defending champions.
I love a good rematch. Don’t you?
Whenever these two groups face-off, every game is like watching the Habs vs. Bruins in a Game 7 playoffs match. The kids put their heart and souls into their games and leave fans wanting more. If you were able to catch this game in-person, consider yourself to be very lucky.
Eskasoni started off very strong, taking a quick and commanding 3-0 lead. Tempers would arise and some penalties would occur on both sides.
In the second period, Membertou snapped out of its funk and broke the shutout. One down, two to go. Then one to go. Then two more needed to tie, back down to one.
It was a classic nail-biter. Eyes would dart upwards to the clock to count down the seconds. Eskasoni had a 4-3 lead, with only a couple of minutes remaining in the game. Literally, two minutes.
It looked as if Membertou would be silver medalists for a second year. Suddenly Membertou finds the puck and drove to the net! Shot fired … and it was still 4-3.
But wait! One of Eskasoni’s players had deliberately pushed the net off its moorings!
It also resulted in a penalty shot for Membertou. With only 24 seconds in the game, Coaches Ryan Ginnish and Leon Paul chose Landon Gould to take the shot. The MSWC was rumbling.
Whistle blew, and Gould was off. One quick deke later and we had a 4-4 game. You could not hear yourself think at this moment. The Emera Arena was in a frenzy. Membertou could win this!
The horn went, and we went to overtime.
After a quick pep-talk, it was ‘game on’ once more. Both teams wanted it. Both teams could taste it. Both teams could feel it.
But this year, it was Membertou’s moment. Once more, Landon Gould would put the puck behind the Eskasoni goalie, bringing the greatest Wallys game to a close. Final score: 5-4, Membertou.
Landon would also be named tournament MVP, in his last midget game. All-star teammates included Peter Googoo, defence; Tyler Boyce, forward; Ariana Denny, goalie. Denny also received the award for best goalie.
Brody Joe, also playing in his last midget tournament, accepted the trophy on behalf of the team, before all teammates took it ‘for a skate.’ Teammates who also played their final midget games were Keegan Christmas, Connor Sabbatis and Googoo. A special thanks goes to coaches Leon Paul, Ryan Ginnish and Storm Sack.
Membertou also took gold in the Bantam and Novice divisions, and silver in Men’s Senior A.
The Wallys, as we affectionately and simply refer to it, is the second oldest indigenous youth hockey tournament in Canada. Our Mi’kmaq ancestors invented the game, and it is only appropriate that the Wallys are now home in Membertou.
Thank you to everyone who made the #Wallys44 the great event it was. Congratulations to all teams; not just our champions, but to every team to came to play the sport that we all love. Adam Gould is the manager of communications and government relations for the Membertou First Nation. He is a lifelong community member and looks forward to sharing the voices of Membertou with readers.