OSWEGO, NY – The Step One Creative Peewee Red hockey team of the Oswego Minor Hockey Association lost 3-0 to Kemptonville in the championship game of the 2014 Lysander Thanksgiving Tournament, held this past weekend in Lysander.
The Bucs went undefeated in four games, before losing in the finals to the Ontario, Canada team.
In this past weekend’s tournament, the Bucs won 6-0 over Valley, 5-2 against NGS, 3-1 over Nepean, 8-0 in the semi-final game against Camillus, and lost 3-0 to Kemptonville.
Step One Creative Peewees 6 Valley 0
In the opening game of the Lysander Tourney against Valley, the Bucs played strong throughout for the 6-0 win.
Spencer Stepien led the scoring with two goals, with Patrick Galvin, Keith Vivlamore, Lukas Cady, and Marcus Baker adding one each.
Aidan Taylor had two assists, while Tommy Back and Galvin each set up one.
Goalie Hunter Lawton had eight saves in the contest, earning the win, and the shutout.
The strong overall play of Bryson Bush, Cole Cullinan, Joe DiBlasi, Tyler May and Noah Delaney also helped secure the win.
“Our team really came out strong in the opener, and it showed that they could run deep in this tournament,” said Step One Creative Head Coach Frank Brosch.
Step One Creative Peewees 5 NGS 2
Step One Creative’s next game against the NGS Braves of Ontario, Canada was once again a strong effort for the Bucs, jumping out to a two-goal lead early in the game, and then coasting to a 5-2 win.
Oswego’s Vivlamore opened up the scoring unassisted at 11:53 of the first period, followed up just seconds later by a Bush goal off a feed from Galvin.
Galvin would add his own marker in the second, off an assist by Stepien, before Cady and Taylor each added goals later in the period to secure the win.
Lawton had six saves in net to pick up the second win of the tourney.
“Our kids came out very strong and played great at both ends of the ice,” said Brosch.
Step One Creative Peewees 3 Nepean 1
In their third tourney matchup Step One Creative defeated Nepean 3-1. After a scoreless first period, and a 1-1 score after two, the Bucs opened it up in the final period with two goals to get the win.
“Nepean had struggled their first couple of games of the tourney, and really came out and played tough against us,” said Brosch. “We were pleased to get the win, and liked the strong play in the third period.”
Cady opened up the scoring in the second period off a feed from Taylor, and Vivlamore added the two deciding goals in the third. Back and Galvin were credited with the assists.
Lawton continued his strong play with nine saves in net.
Step One Creative 8 Camillus 0
After their strong pool play in the tourney, the Bucs earned a top seed in their division, and faced off against Camillus.
The Bucs had a balanced scoring attack throughout, led by Taylor’s three-goal hat trick. Baker added two goals, and Stepien, Cady and Delaney one each. Picking up assists in the lopsided victory were Stepien (3) and Vivlamore (2), and May and Diblasi with one apiece.
“Our players really wanted a spot in the championship game, and this strong win was representative of that effort and determination,” said Brosch. “We have a very balanced and offense-minded team, and it showed in this matchup.”
Lawton earned his second shutout win of the tourney and had 14 saves against the Cougars.
Kemptonville 3 Step One Creative Peewees 0
In the Lysander Tourney Championship, the Bucs were matched up against Kemptonville, who had went undefeated and showed very strong play against their opponents in the B Division.
Two goals by Kemptonville in the first period and a late goal in the third rounded out the scoring. The three goals were the fewest goals scored by Kemptonville in the tourney play.
Lawton had 23 saves in the matchup.
“We missed some opportunities that might have changed the direction of the game, but they (Kemptonville) earned the win and played very well throughout the tournament,” said Brosch. “They definitely outsized our team, but our kids never backed down.”
“It was a great first tournament of the year for our squad,” he added.
Additional recent games
The Step One Creative Peewees won two Snowbelt League games on the road recently, defeating Ithaca at Cass Park 11-0, and then the following day 7-1 over Clinton at their arena.
Step One Creative 11 Ithaca 0
Step One Creative exploded for 11 goals in this one-sided win over Ithaca.
In the matchup against Ithaca, goals include: Taylor (3), Delaney (3), Vivlamore (1), Baker (1), DiBlasi (1), Bush (1), and Stepien (1). Assists were registered by Taylor (3), Bush (1), Baker (1), Galvin (1), DiBlasi (1), and Stepien (1).
Lawton had eight saves in the shutout win.
Step One Creative 7 Clinton 1
Step One Creative jumped out early on Clinton with four goals through the first two periods, and then added three more late to pick up the road win 7-1.
Scoring for Oswego were Vivlamore (2), and Back, Baker, Galvin, Taylor and Stepien each with one. Buc assists came from Stepien, DiBlasi, Back and Taylor.
Lawton had eight shots on net, and picked up another strong win.
Step One Creative is now 12-2 on the season, and remains undefeated in Snowbelt League action at 5-0.
They travel to Clayton for a league matchup against Thousand Islands this weekend, and will also host Fulton in a non-league game at Cullinan Rink.
The Step One Creative Peewee coaching staff includes: Head Coach Frank Brosch, and Assistants Andy DiBlasi, Pete Cullinan and Phil Cady.
missing or outdated ad config
