The TNT Tornados Major Peewee AA Hockey Team sponsored by Pampered Pet Lodge travelled to Port Huron Michigan Jan. 22 and 24 to compete in the 48th Annual International Silver Stick Championsips. This year's tournament featured four divisions of four teams, with 11 from the United States and five from Canada.

Teams competing in the finals included; the Waterloo Wolves, Central CT Capitals, Grand Rapids Griffins, Suburban Stars, Oklahoma City Hockey, Aurora Tigers, TNT Tornados, Mississauga North Stars, Metro Maple Leafs, San Jose Jr. Sharks, Colorado Springs Jr. Tigers, Leaside Flames, Port Huron Flags, Ann Arbor Wolves, Naperville Sabres and Atlanta Fire.

Throughout the entire weekend of play, the sign attached to the door of the TNT dressing room read "TORNADO WARNING!" An appropriate sign for sure, as very few in attendance knew who the team was or where they were from

Game 1

TNT vs. Grand Rapids

Game 1 action on Thursday had the Tornados up against the Grand Rapids Griffins, ranked number two in United States AA hockey.

The Tornados came out of the gate flying and scored just 32 seconds into the game on a goal by Mark Stevens assisted by Kyle Cave. With just 50 seconds left on the clock to end the first period, TNT struck again on a goal by Adrian Markus assisted by Lucas Smilsky.

Grand Rapids responded with just 14 seconds left in the period to make the score 2-1 at the end of the first.

Just 30 seconds into the second period, the Griffins tied the game 2-2. The remainder of the period saw a great deal of pressure being applied in the TNT end, but goalie Quintyn Farrar and company stood tall and kept the Griffins off the scoreboard.

With just four minutes remaining in the period, TNT scored twice within a two-minute span. Stevens scored his second on a feed from Markus, and then Markus scored his first on a pass from Matthew Vanbeek.

The Tornados would go into the third up 4-2, but would have to wait out a flood to get things going.

The Griffins came out in the third and threw everything they had at the Tornados. TNT battled hard, but with just under seven minutes left and the Griffins on a powerplay, they scored at the 6:54 mark, and then on another powerplay tied the game with 3:44 left on the clock.

Just over a minute later the Griffins struck again and went up 5-4 with just over two minutes left. The Tornados pulled their goalie and with six attackers missed on a couple of close chances. The game would end 5-4 in favour of the Griffins.

Game 2

TNT vs. Naperville

Game 2 on Friday saw the Tornados play against the Chicago Illinois area champion in the Naperville Sabres. The game would see TNT apply all kinds of pressure and generate lots of chances, but at the end of two periods, the scoreboard remained deadlocked at 0-0. The tie was finally broken at the 6:20 mark of the 3rd when Smilsky score unassisted on a shot from the top of the circle. 3 minutes later, the Tornados notched their 2nd on a goal from Cave, assisted by Connor McIntosh. With the Naperville goalie out for an extra attacker, TNT would miss on several open net chances before McIntosh scored assisted by Cave and Stevens to make the final score 3-0. Sean Caulfield picked up the shutout and the win in this one.

Game 3

TNT vs. Colorado Springs

Game 3 and the final game of the round robin had TNT up against the Colorado Springs Jr. Tigers. Both teams realized going into this one that the winner would advance to the quarter-finals. The Tornados scored a pair of goals in the first frame to take a 2-0 lead into the dressing room for the flood.

On a powerplay, Thomas Foulds scored the first assisted by Markus and Blake Murray. The second goal was scored by Murray assisted by Myles Douglas. TNT was the only team to score in the second period. With 3:02 on the clock, Cave scored with and assist going to each of his linemates, McIntosh and Stevens. TNT closed out the scoring in the third period with a goal by Markus assisted by Foulds and Vanbeek. Sean Caulfield earned his second straight shutout between the pipes. Make the final score 4-0, and TNT would now advance to the quarter-finals Saturday evening.

Quarter-Final Game

TNT vs. Suburban Stars

The quarter final game would see TNT up against the Suburban Stars, ranked number one in USA AA hockey. The Suburban Stars team passed bye the TNT dressing room heading to the ice and saw the "Tornado Warning" sign attached to the door. They apparently ignored the warning. TNT dominated the first period of play, and when the dust settled, the Tornados were up 3-0 heading to the dressing room for the flood. Just 35 seconds into the period, Foulds scored with assists going to Markus and Smilsky. Halfway into the period, Markus scored on a pass from Vanbeek.

Under a minute later Cave scored the 3rd goal with an assist going to Stevens and Douglas. The second period was hard fought and the battle intensified. The pressure on TNT goalie Sean Caulfield increased, but no goals were scored in the 2nd frame. With possible elimination on the horizon, the Stars continued to pressure TNT, and 3 minutes into the 3rd scored their first goal to make the score 3-1.

Late in the period and on the power play, the Stars struck again to set the stage for a furious finish. With under a minute left on the clock, and both team timeouts used, TNT was under siege, but with all hands on deck they were able thwart the comeback, and TNT was victorious 3-2, and off to the semi-finals on Sunday.

Semi-Finals

TNT vs. Connecticut Capitals

The stage was set for Championship Day, with 12 teams eliminated and just four teams left, two American teams and two Canadian teams remained. The semi-final match-ups would see the Grand Rapids Griffins up against the Aurora Tigers and the Central CT Capitals of Connecticut up against the TNT Tornados.

Before the fans could settle into their seats, the Capitals jumped out in front with a goal just nine seconds into the period to go up 1-0. Three minutes later, the Capitals would score again to go up 2-0. With the Tornados reeling a little, Kyle Cave provided a spark by scoring a goal at the 3:45 mark assisted by Stevens.

The Tornados would go into the dressing room after the first down 2-1. TNT applied pressure early in the second, but in the process gave up an odd man rush and saw the Capitals score again to go up 3-1.

The Tornados would make sure not to go away quietly, and scored with just under five minutes left in the third on a goal from Stevens, assisted by McIntosh and Cave.

With just over a minute left on the clock, Caulfield was pulled in favour of a sixth attacker. The Tornados flooded the zone and pressed for all they were worth, narrowly missing on several chances, but they were unable to score again, and their incredible tournament run had come to an end.

Congratulations go out to the TNT Tornados Major Peewee AA team for their The team now returns to the OMHA playdowns for second round action against Newmarket.

The team is comprised of Quintyn Farrar, Connor McIntosh, Brendan Moore, Adrian Markus, Andrew Ceolin, Matthew Vanbeek, Spencer Bonca, Blake Murray, Thomas Foulds, Lucas Smilsky, Jakob Biffis, Sean Caulfield, Myles Douglas, Kyle Cave, Mark Stevens and coaches Dave Smilsky, Sean Moore, Brian Douglas, and Dino Biffis.