May 2008 - Calgary Midget AAA Buffaloes

Story reposted from the Calgary Herald

Calgary AAA Midget Buffaloes take 4th Place at National Tournament

The BUFFS just finished down in Arnprior, Ont. at the Telus Cup National AAA Midget Tournament and narrowly missed getting a medal – they took 4th place. Goalie Kris Moore, was named Goalie of the Tournament.

A few hours of sleep were enough to dispel the sting of losing, but did little to regenerate the depleted batteries.

Fatigue reared its ugly head, at times causing the Calgary Buffaloes all kinds of problems in their own end, as they dropped a 7-4 decision Sunday morning in the bronze medal match-up tot he Seminaire St-Francois Blizzard at the 2008 Telus Cup national midget hockey tournament in Arnprior, Ont.

"I think the whole course of the week ran its course, playing seven games in seven days,'' noted Calgary head coach James Poole.

"The players gave it their best.''

Later in the day, the Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves surprised the unbeaten Winnipeg Thrashers 6-4 to become the first Central region champion to collect Telus Cup gold.

Heading into the third tied at 3-3, the Buffaloes were outscored 4-1 and return home medal-less.

"I'm proud of the kids' effort, this year and this week,'' Poole maintained. "The kids played through injuries and sickness (this week). They've battled through adversity all year.''

Calgary went with Sean Cahill in net, in relief of Kris Moore who was on the losing end of a 5-2 decision Saturday night. Sunday morning's contest was pushed back an hour because of the lateness of that semifinal. Poole agreed the bounce was missing in the Buffaloes' step, as they managed just 16 shots on goal.

"They're a good skating team,'' he said of the Blizzard, "and they were the fresher team. We just weren't shooting the puck enough and not going to the net.''

St-Francois opened the scoring on a goal by Guillaume Asselin at 4:48 of the first period. But it did not take long for the Buffaloes to get that one back and add another as Jake Hayes and Chris Collins scored about a minute apart.

Brett Switzer -- Calgary's player of the game -- was the architect of Calgary's third goal as he carried the puck into the Blizzard zone alone and a trailing Jordan Kanygin stuffed it past goaltender Jean-Michel Fortier. But 27 seconds later, some diligent work behind the Calgary net prompted a goal by Justin Ducharme from the slot, tying the contest once more.

Down 5-3 midway through the third and digging deep, the Buffaloes battled back, Jona Szakacs making good in the midst of a scrum in front of the Blizzard net at 12:16.

But the weary Buffaloes couldn't take advantage on a power-play and instead gave up their second shorthanded goal in two games, lifting the Blizzard once and for all.

The AAA Midget BUFFS are coached by NSD Director of Player Development James Poole
The BUFFS were trained all year by NSD Performance Specialist Jeff Hope–Ross

Congratulations Boys! All the management & staff at NSD are extremely proud of this year's accomplishments!