Canadians bring home the Brewerkz Cup from Singapore!

March 4, 2007 - Singapore

Eleven of the Tokyo Canadians flew into Changi Airport late Wednesday night, joined by two more on Thursday morning – Dave Lindsay flying in from Qatar (without his hockey bag) and Keith McQueen from Australia, to take part in the Brewerkz Cup at Singapore's Fuji Ice Palace. Ten teams coming from Abu Dhabi (Gulf), Bangkok, Korea, Qatar, Singapore and Tokyo battled it out in the International division.

The TCs took on the Qatar Canucks in their 1st game. The TCs lit the lamp first with an end to end rush by Rock Voisine that ended with a nifty deak that beat the tender 5-hole. Qatar answered to even it up at one apiece 5 minutes into the 2nd frame. Slaton fired a feed from Kimoto on the power play to take the lead 2-1. It looked like the lead would stand, but Qatar scored with just 1.8 seconds left to tie the game. The game ended with a few skirmishes with Slaton and Voisine dropping the mitts with opposing players after a McQueen laid out Qatar’s high flying top player.

The 2nd game saw the TCs take on the Flying Farangs Shadows (the Farangs alter ego team). Typical in TC fashion, after shaking off the traveling legs, the team came out flying with a quick 2-0 lead, again led by Rob Voisine who netted 2 in the victory. Scott Mccaskie, who was determined to quadruple his production (on the ice) from the Bangkok tourney, found the back off the net after a mad scramble in front. Scooter also chipped in another to score 2 for the TCs. Chris Antonelli put on a Mongolia goalie clinic stacking his pads on more than one occasion to keep the TCs in the lead. Midway through the 2nd period Kimoto was crossed checked from behind going for an open net goal and landed awkwardly. He was later treated and diagnosed with torn ligaments in his left wrist.

Friday morning fans saw the TCs slated against the Singapore Thirsty Islanders. JO Caron was the game’s first star as he registered 5 goals in a 12-0 drumming of the Singapore B team. McCaskie and Slaton added 2 of their own while Voisine, Doris, and Takagi also tallied for the Canadians. Antonelli recorded his second shut out in as many games looking good as Tokyo’s “Hey Kitty”.

The 2nd game of the day was against the defending champions, the Singapore Brewerkz Brewins. The Brewins scored first on the man advantage on a screen shot that beat Antonelli stick side. Voisine took a pass from Kimoto (who played with his hand in a make shift cast) and answered with a power play goal that tied the game at 1-1. The game was decided on the next power play, this time for the Brewins and the game ended handing the TCs their first loss.

Following late rule changes, the Canadians' next opponent was the Rocky Mountain Tavern Chiefs from Seoul. After a late meal that filled the bellies of all the Tokyo Canadians, the players came out slow and did not play at the level as what was expected. The Canadians also faced many penalties and after the first period the game was knotted at 2 a piece. On a perfect feed to the high slot from Voisine, Dave Lindsay netted the go-ahead goal with a quick snapshot low to the stickside. Guy Roberge finally made it onto the score sheet scoring a pair of goals. Final score 5-2 Canadians.

Semi finals – Bangkok Flying Farangs versus the Tokyo Canadians

The Flying Farangs, who finished first coming out of the International A Division, were only challenged once, playing Abu Dhabi on Thursday and easily winning that game. So their toughest challenge was now upon them, facing the 3rd place Tokyo Canadians. But it was the Farangs who scored first on a power play to take an early lead 1-0. Frustrated, the TCs took many penalties but great penalty killing by rookie Frank Harrison, Mike Doris and Keith McQueen kept the game close, even when the Farangs had a 2 man advantage with Slaton off for high sticking. Rock Voisine tied the game on a blast from the point. Late in the 2nd frame Slaton battled for a puck along the boards in the TC end and then made a beauty pass between 2 Farang defenders onto Kimoto’s stick for a breakaway. With 1:12 seconds on the clock, Kimoto shot the puck short side lighting the lamp and securing the win that sent the Tokyo Canadians to the final.

Final Game – Abu Dhabi (Gulf) Scorpions versus the Tokyo Canadians

The final game was a rematch of the game that knocked out the TCs of the Bangkok Cup 5 months prior and this time they TCs were looking for revenge. Before the game, an emotional speech from McCaskie had the boys playing for more than the championship, they were playing for their teammate – “Let’s do it for Rosey!” A loud “Canadians!” was shouted and the game was on. Four lines continued to roll and they followed the game plan that got the boys to the final. Speedy Frank Harrison forced an early turnover shooting on sprawling Giguere that left an open net for Kimoto to tap in. Tokyo 1 – Scorpions 0.

Abu Dhabi who only played with 9 skaters answered quickly and tied the game on a power play but Guy Roberge knocked in a rebound from a Mike Doris shot that had the TCs fans on their feet cheering. Tokyo’s third goal game on a hard fore-check by Kimoto who stole the puck from the Scorpion defence man and stuffed the puck behind Giguere’s skate to get the lead to 3-1. Tokyo continued their play of dump and chase and this proved to be the winning formula as the Scorpions acknowledged their defeat when the game was only 5 minutes into the second period. Doris (after hitting at least 6 posts and 2 crossbars) sent the water bottle high into the air and now it was 4-1. Tokyo could start to taste the victory with about 6 minutes remaining in the game but a late penalty by Kimoto had the Scorpions on the power play once again. Great communication by the TC bench and superb penalty killing saw JO Caron swipe the face-off into the Scorpion zone towards and empty net that Caron later tapped into seal the deal.

The Tokyo Canadians raised the Brewerkz Cup and drank the beer inside…thanked their fans and posed for photos before heading off to the closing ceremony where Antonelli took home the award for Tournament MVP and Rob Voisine was voted the tournament's Top Defenceman.