Peewee C2 take 5th place at Cloverdale Tournament

  Congratulations to the Sunshine Coast Peewee House C2 Blues for finishing 5^th at the Cloverdale Hockey tournament Jan 4-6, 2013. Thanks to the parents, coaches, and family members for coming out and supporting the boys.
The 3 days were packed with ice hockey, hallway hockey, swimming, pizza, doughnuts, and just plain hotel fun, a good time was had by all. Here are a few of the highlights.
Like most tournaments no one knew what to expect, but it started out on the right foot for the Blues with a win over the hosting Cloverdale team. A 1-0 nail biter that had Quinn Ewert scoring the winner and Brandon Ree-Lagace getting a well earned shut out. The defense of Rishi Fernandes, Declan Coyle, Ethan Bezaire, and Jacob Chabot were unbeatable.
Game 2 had us playing the soon to be finalists Ridge Meadows. The boys played hard but fell 4-2 in a back and forth grinder. Let’s not talk about that game. Spirits were low but not broken.
Game 3 was more of the same good quality players as we faced Abbotsford. The game was scoreless half way through the second period when Julian Miles jammed home a goal crease scramble. He then went on to score two more goals completing the hat trick giving the Blues a 3-0 victory. Brandon Ree-Lagace had his second shutout of the tournament stoning the Abbotsford shooters.
Then came the giants from Surrey, no really! This was a huge team with one player measuring in at 6’2”, 220lbs! Are you kidding me, he’s 12 years old. I wanted to see some ID! The Blues have 5 players that haven’t hit 4’10” 80lbs !! Surrey came out flying. It was a little intimidating and “I ain’t going near that guy” was rippling up and down the bench. Surrey intended to crush. But the pesky fore-checking of Sean Pletz, Braedon Service, and Liam Hage and great goaltending from Noah Sheldon started to frustrate the giants. Hunter Mensink tied the game when he jumped on a rebound at the end of the first. In the second Aiden Swann  had a clear break away and potted his first goal ever, post and in - what a shot! But it amped up when Hunter Mensink who was having an outstanding game was escorted to the dressing room (high hit) that the Blues really got going! Brison Geue potted two quick goals. One a sweet “how ya doin” move between the big D’s legs and then roofing it on the goaltender. Julian Miles capped it off with a crossbar and in rocket. But 6’2” wasn’t ready to surrender, so like good Sunshine Coast tree fallers the boys whacked, hacked, and brought the tree down. Elan Kimpton-Cuellar threw himself in front of that freight train putting an end to the rushes and making the statement “the bigger they come the harder they fall”! Blues 5 – Surrey Giants 1.
Now it was party time. With the big win we had qualified for the quarter finals. The boys had a fun time at the rec. center’s very large pool, they ate Chinese food , some went and watched the Abbotsford Heat play, and there were smiles all around.
Day 3 and game #5 had us in the quarter finals up against a very tough opponent, Juan De Fuca. They hadn’t lost a game. The Blues came out a little flat but held their own, but the Islanders were a very strong team. Though the boys played their hearts out and left everything on the ice it wasn’t enough to get us a win.
So we dried our tears, packed our hockey bags, and said goodbye to a great weekend. Great job boys, you did yourselves proud.