The Novice Blue Jr. Rangers started off the new year with a big tournament championship!
After a quick turn around from the Wayne Gretzky Tournament, the team was back on tournament ice to start their final contest of the regular season.
On an early Friday morning the team faced off against the North Durham Warriors. After they were handled easily, the Rangers took on the Pelham Panthers in the afternoon. After falling behind in the first two periods, the boys came together as a team to rally back and take a 4-3 victory.
With only one game on Saturday, the Jr. Rangers made it count. They recorded a decisive 9-1 victory over the St. Catharines Falcons, with a couple of players on the team recording hat tricks.
On the final day of the tournament the Jr. Rangers met the Hespeler Shamrocks in the semi-final. While the Shamrocks were feeling lucky, the Rangers stuck first. Each goal the Jr. Rangers burried was answered by the Shamrocks, who kept the pressure on. The game remained tied late in the third, until the Rangers #55 got the go-ahead goal. An empty-netter in the dying seconds, by #4, sent the Jr. Rangers off the finals once again.
Facing the formidable Pelham Panthers, and down a centreman, the Jr. Rangers came out flying in the final! They took an early lead, but by the third period tempers (particularly the opposing coach's) and penalties were rising. The Panthers pulled within 1 goal, but even a late power-play rush was shut down by the Kitchener defense, and the Jr. Rangers came out victorious!! The Novice Blue Jr. Rangers were crowned Novice A Champions!
The team looks forward to the remainder of the season, as each of the players continues to sharpen their positional play, passing, and teamwork!