Nov 29, 2017 | Brian Duke | 921 views
NATIONS CUP CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!
This past weekend the Minor Atom AA team packed up and headed to Detroit, Michigan for the Nations Cup and took the Gold for Canada!
The Nations Cup is a Tournament where Canadian teams vs. USA teams. Every game is worth 2 points for your home country.
The tournament started with a lot of excitement when the boys dawned their Canadian Jerseys. There was definitely a buzz in the arena. They were so proud to be representing their country but I don't think it really clicked in until the 2nd period of our 1st game vs Birmingham Rangers(USA) in a 2-2 game, when the boys heard the Essex Team Canada chanting Let's go CANADA over and over banging on the glass. I saw a lot of smiles on the bench and then our boys followed suit chanting CANADA. Shortly after that we scored to go up 3-2 things were looking good until we found ourselves in penalty trouble. Birmingham had the advantage 5 on 3 and all the action was in our end. That is until we went down short handed and scored bar down to take the game 4-2 and won the game!
The boys fed off that win and carried that energy into our next game vs. Lakeland Hawks. It was a very close game until the 3rd period where we were able to pop in five goals very quickly and win the game. The boys did everything that was asked of them, they forechecked, back checked, won puck battles but most important they played as a team. The passing was unbelievable!!
We went on to beat the Troy Sting by 4-2 and Livonia in our next two games to finish in the #1 Seed for Canada! That meant we would play the Lansing Spartans for Gold in the finals representing Canada as the #1 Seed and a BIG 7 points overall were all for grabs in the Canada vs USA total points.
The message before the game was that you are representing your Country and the City of Kitchener. To go out and be dominant, win your races for the puck, battle, forecheck and back check, take lots of shots and play as a TEAM.
We took the ice with the Canadian flag in hand proudly skating the flag around the ice! We were the last game for our division so there were six other Canadian teams there cheering us on. As well as six USA teams cheering for the USA. The atmosphere was electric so much so I had goose bumps.
The puck dropped and we had it in there end right of the draw. Seconds later we scored the 1st goal and the building erupted for Canada. There was no turning back, we were dominant in every facet of the game! Every time they would break it out we had 3 back checkers on them stripping them of the puck. Even when they had their opportunities our defence turned them away and our Goalie was sharp. We went on to beat them 10-0 in the final.
I know what your thinking...it must have been an easy team right? No not all they were a very good team. It was just that everything we have been working all year came together for this one game and they gave a dominant performance. The one thing we can't teach these boys is to play with heart... and that day they were all heart. The moving of the puck was something you don't normally see from 9 year olds. Each one of these players put their individual goals aside of wanting to score the big goal and cared more about the success of the TEAM.
CANADA WENT ON TO WIN BOTH THE ROUND ROBIN 40-16 AND THE PLAYOFF ROUND 21.5 - 6.5. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE OTHER CANADIAN TEAMS!
The boys had fun on and off the ice this weekend! Friendships got a little stronger, new ones were formed. I think for the Coaches it will be remembered for the weekend we became a team and started playing like one. Individual stats are not their focus. Team goals are more important to them now which was evident through this tournament.
The Coaches are very proud of the boys for giving it their all and playing as a team. We are equally as proud of how the boys represented KMHA and their Counrtry!
Congrats boys you deserve it!