Neason Garlow Went Full Wraparound In The Third. The Haldimand River Kings U13A Split The Points With Stony Creek.

A tight 2-2 game between the River Kings and the Stony Creek Warriors featured three different kids scoring three completely different kinds of goals. And a Haldimand bench that stayed loud all afternoon.

By Hometown Sports Network // Haldimand County, Ontario

Hockey writers love to talk about the three types of goals.

The rebound goal. The sniper goal. The highlight-reel goal.

In most games, you get one of them. In a really good one, you get two.

In the Haldimand River Kings U13A matchup against the Stony Creek Warriors on Saturday, you got all three. One from each team. And by the time the final buzzer went, the game was tied 2-2.

Nobody lost. Nobody won. Both teams went home with a point and the knowledge they’d just played a tight one against a tough opponent.

That’s U13A hockey when it’s at its best..

The River Kings got on the board first.

First period, with Haldimand pressuring in the Stony Creek end, a River Kings forward got to the net and picked up a rebound. The shot skipped over the goaltender and across the line.

1-0 River Kings.

That’s your first type of goal. The rebound goal. The dirty one. The kind that happens because somebody was willing to stand in the blue paint and get whacked for it.

The River Kings bench was alive. The Haldimand parents in the stands were on their feet.

But Stony Creek wasn’t going anywhere.

In the second period, Stony Creek’s Liam battled through a Haldimand screen in front of the net and fired a shot that floated over the goal line.

1-1.

That’s your second type of goal. The battling-through-traffic goal. The one that doesn’t look pretty, but counts the same as any other. Liam fought for his position, took the shot, and the puck found its way in.

The Warriors kept pushing.

Later in the second, Matt picked up the puck on the right wing. Instead of forcing a shot, he looked across and found Hayden with a perfect pass. Hayden buried it.

2-1 Warriors.

That’s your third type of goal. The team goal. The right play. The pass that beats a goaltender more than a shot ever could.

Stony Creek had the lead and the momentum heading into the third period. Haldimand had twenty minutes to find an answer.

They found it in Neason Garlow.

Early in the third, Neason Garlow took the puck behind the Stony Creek net. Instead of looking for a pass, instead of dumping it, instead of waiting for support, Neason did what every hockey kid dreams of doing.

He wrapped it.

Full wraparound. Around the net. Shot tucked just inside the post. Puck squeaked across the goal line.

2-2.

That’s your fourth type of goal. The one none of us talk about enough. The one where a 13-year-old kid takes matters into his own hands and makes something happen all by himself.

Haldimand River Kings parents in the stands were losing their minds.

Neason, that’s a highlight you’re going to be watching for years.

The game stayed tied through the rest of the third. Neither team could find the go-ahead goal. The buzzer went. Final: 2-2.

Both teams shook hands. Both teams earned a point. Both teams walked off knowing they’d played a tight one.

We caught up with two of the River Kings after the game. Harper and Cooper.

We asked them what their favourite part of the game was.

Harper went to a specific tactical answer.

HARPER, HALDIMAND RIVER KINGS

“Probably just our power play. Good shots. We got that.”

That’s a U13A kid who understands special teams. The power play didn’t put a goal on the board on Saturday, but Harper saw the chances it created and knew that unit was clicking. That’s a kid paying attention to the right stuff.

Cooper’s favourite part of the game wasn’t a play. It was the bench.

COOPER, HALDIMAND RIVER KINGS

“Seeing all my teammates get hyped about the goals today.”

Read that again.

A 13-year-old boy, after a tie game, told us his favourite moment was watching his teammates celebrate.

That’s the kind of answer that tells you everything you need to know about the River Kings’ dressing room culture. These kids genuinely like playing with each other. The goals aren’t just goals. They’re reasons for the bench to come alive.

If you’re a River Kings parent, you can relax. The culture is right.

When we asked them who their favourite teammate was, both kids had answers that circled back to the same theme.

HARPER

“Probably Tyler. He’s a special goalie. He’s pretty good, and he’s funny.”

Tyler, the River Kings goalie. His own teammate just told the entire network that he’s a special goalie and that he’s funny. That’s a dream combination for a 13-year-old between the pipes. Serious when it counts. Loose in the dressing room.

Tyler, you’ve got a fan in your own crease zone.

COOPER

“My favourite player is probably Cauer. He talks a lot and he helps me know where the play is.”

He talks a lot and he helps me know where the play is.

That’s a leadership compliment from a 13-year-old. Cauer is the kid who’s communicating on the ice. Letting Cooper know who’s open. Calling for the puck. Reading the play two seconds ahead and making sure his linemate knows what’s coming.

Every hockey team at every level has one of those kids. Cauer is yours.

When we asked who taught them to play hockey, we got the answer we’ve gotten from every single kid on this network this season.

“My dad.”

Harper’s dad taught him to skate and shoot. Cooper’s dad taught him the knuckle puck.

The knuckle puck.

Somewhere in Haldimand County, a dad has been standing in a driveway or on a backyard rink teaching his son how to throw a knuckle puck. Something straight out of a hockey movie. A 13-year-old kid now carries that trick with him onto a U13A ice surface.

That’s the kind of story that makes youth hockey what it is.

Here’s what this game was really about.

Yes, the River Kings and the Warriors played to a 2-2 tie. Yes, Liam and Hayden put Stony Creek ahead. Yes, Neason Garlow went full wraparound in the third to earn Haldimand the point.

But if you ask the kids on the Haldimand bench, the story wasn’t the goals.

It was watching their teammates celebrate. It was Tyler keeping it loose in the crease. It was Cauer calling out plays and making sure his linemate knew where to go. It was Harper noticing the power play was clicking.

That’s a hockey team that’s building something. The kind of team that walks out of a tight 2-2 game feeling like they got better.

Both teams are back in action soon. We’ll be at the rink. Mic in hand.

Got a game we should be covering? A coach making a difference? A kid who throws a mean knuckle puck? Reach out at hometownsportsnetwork.ca. We want to hear about it.

HOMETOWN SPORTS NETWORK

Welcome to the season.

We'll be at rinks all over Norfolk, Haldimand, and Brant this fall and winter. Mic in hand.

Got a game we should be covering? A coach making a difference? A goalie who deserves a proper thank-you? Reach out at hometownsportsnetwork.ca. We want to hear about it.