It is hard to believe that the hockey season has ended, but
for our team, there are many great memories to look back on and remember it by.
When the season began, our boys were five and six years old, and together,
these boys were to embark on a season of firsts.
In September, with proud parents watching and supporting, our boys would all try-out for and be selected to play on their first competitive hockey team. This is where the journey began. The excitement was evident amongst all of the players (and their parents) about the thrilling prospect of the upcoming season. The Capitals were formed and our team launched a season of opportunities such as team building activities, parties, extra practices, power skating, exhibition games and away tournaments. These shared experiences brought our boys, and their families, close together.
Our tournament in Bradford was another first for our players, an away tournament! This was such an exciting experience and our team played great on the ice. We were learning positions and had some great success as a team. Despite a strong effort, we were eliminated in the semi-finals, but as it turns out, that did not cast a shadow on our team’s weekend away. Mini-sticks, swimming, pizza and cupcakes prevailed, and our boys made it clear that ‘having fun’ was their top priority. Our team bond grew stronger.
In the Jason Cripps Memorial Christmas Tournament all of our hard work and extra time at the rink paid off as the boys captured their first team championship of the season! After finishing first place in the round-robin, we handily won our semi-final game and faced-off against the Kings in the finals. It was a nail-biter of a game, and our goalie played amazing as we grinded out a 1-0 victory! From the stands, tears of joy were shed as our little boys accomplished something very special, winning a championship! This feat was yet another first for the team.
In. St Thomas the Capitals demonstrated that their hockey skills had developed beyond their years as we coasted to outscore our opponents 75-0 in the round-robin and semi-finals. The coaches emphasized positions, passing, teamwork and sportsmanship and all players contributed to our team’s success. Unfortunately, we were stopped short of a championship by a strong Duffield team. Our boys battled valiantly right to the end and handled themselves with class."
Following our tournament, the boys got a chance to have a fun game during the Hockey Town festivities at Kitchener City Hall. After beating the Kings 7-2 earlier in the day we would play them again, but outside on a bright sunny day. With our war paint on we were ready to battle on the outdoor rink for the Mayor’s Cup. We came out flying and won 17-14!
With the end of the season in sight, the Capitals had their eye on one final prize, a league championship. Despite winning some lopsided victories in league play during the final months, the parity amongst the different teams was evident as our undefeated record in the round robin included two ties (including scoring with the goalie pulled late to force a tie). We won a hard fought battle in the semis against the Sharks who made our boys dig deep and play a tough game. It was off to the finals! Again, the Kings were waiting for us, and it seemed as though each of their players was a foot taller than each of ours! Despite an early goal against us in the first minute, we dominated the puck possession, played amazing defence, scored some great goals, and won the game 2-1. We ended the season as champions! The Capitals were put to the test and prevailed!
Contributions by so many people made our season a success. The eagerness of those willing to help was astounding and the sacrifices parents made for their child to participate on this team are nothing short of amazing. It’s true we were collectively developing a hockey team, but we were more importantly developing a group of young men. Because of the emphasis on ‘team’ both on and off the ice, it is clear that we succeeded.
Thank you,
Coaches