Dozens of mini-sticks games, hours in the pool, lunch with one of the top NHL scorers of all time, AND hockey?!? Peewee Select and fans headed to Niagara Falls for a March Break tournament and lots of hockey fun.
Our first game against Stouffville was exciting, they are strong skaters and it ended in a 3-0 win for Newmarket. Our second game against Acton had some of our best plays of the season with everyone working well as a team. Great passing and many shots on net gave us a 7-3 win.
Before our third game our team had the opportunity to meet hockey legend Marcel Dionne at the Blue Line Diner. He talked to our players about growing up playing shinny, stories from his hockey career, respect for others on and off the ice, and the importance of teamwork. He showed us hockey memorabilia including a $15 wood stick he scored 731 goals with. The parents especially loved the wise words of the importance of players appreciating parent support of hockey and comparing vacuuming to stickhandling. Sounds like dry-land training we need to work into our program! Thanks to Marcel for the talk and the signed cards for our players.
Newmarket and Chedoke both went into the third game undefeated. The winner would move into the semifinals. Their cheering section was certainly no match for the Newmarket fans. On the ice we had a strong game every period and earned a 4-2 win. Our tournament ended with a 6-2 semi-final loss to the Brantford 99ers. Thanks to all our families and players for participating. We have three more games and one tournament to go this season - don't pack your horns and bells away yet!
Some photos from our tournament:
Niagara Falls Tournament