It was quite a weekend for KC Minor Hockey teams at the season's first tournament! The Westfort IceBreaker took place this past weekend, and three KC teams reached the top of the podium, while others had great success as well.
The first team to lift the IceBreaker Trophy was the U11A KC Bertrand Contracting Knights. The Knights got off to a great start in the preliminary round, with back to back 4-1 wins. They'd finish the round robin with an undefeated 4-0 record, securing the top seed heading into the semifinals. Sunday morning brought a 5-0 semifinal win over the Westfort Mavericks, leading to a championship final against the West End Bruins, undefeated so far in the regular season. The Knights used timely scoring by the forwards as well as solid defensive zone play and excellent goaltending, in not allowing a goal on Sunday, and winning a hard-fought final 2-0. Congratulations, Knights!
U11A Champions -- KC Bertrand Contracting Knights
Having gone 0-5 in a rough start to the season, the U11AA KC Sabres turned it on when it mattered, and figured out how fast and tenacious they actually are. With great work ethic and teamwork, they were able to finish the round robin 4-0, needing a shootout in the fourth game to preserve the undefeated record. The semi finals were a hard fought affair, but they managed to scrape out a 2-1 win over the Westfort Rangers. The boys were fired up for the championship game, where they kept their foot on the gas, scored first and never looked back, taking home the U11AA Westfort IceBreaker championship 5-1 over the PA Westfort Maroons. Congratulations Sabres!
U11AA Champions -- KC Sabres
The U13AA Sabres came together as a team to become Champions in the IceBreaker this weekend. The Sabres met the U15 Queens, NorWest Stars, and West End Bruins, going undefeated in the round robin, to advance to the quarterfinals. There, they would put in a strong performance to earn a 5-0 win against the Northern Selects. In the semifinals, the Sabres lined up again against the Stars, and came away with a thrilling 4-3 win to advance to the finals. The championship game would bring another rematch, as the Sabres faced off again against the strong U15 Queens team. Their teamwork, determination, and hard work led them to be undefeated in the tournament, securing a 3-2 win in the final, to become the U13AA Champions. Congratulations, Sabres!!
U13AA Champions -- KC Sabres (photo credit Austin Roy)
With eight teams playing across six different divisions, it was easy to lose track of the sheer number of strong performances by KC teams this past weekend!
The U18A Sabres overcame a tough start with two losses on Thursday, but then caught fire, reeling off four straight wins, including convincing wins over the PA Westfort Maroons and the South End Jr. Stars in the quarterfinals and semifinals to reach the final in their first tournament of the season. Unfortunately, the Sabres would run out of gas (and players), playing much of the game with 10 skaters, and falling to a strong Nipigon team in the final.
The U15A Sabres finished off a strong preliminary round with a 3-1 record to win their group and move straight to the semifinals. There, they would go the absolute distance, surviving a 10-minute 3-on-3 overtime period against the Elks 82's, only to fall in a sudden death shootout that went to extra shooters...it was so exciting, onlookers thought the roof was going to blow off FN1! Well done to both the older Sabres teams!
The U13A division saw strong performances by both KC teams, as the Red Wings went 3-0 in the preliminary round, and the Canadiens went 2-1 (with their only loss being to their KC cousins). The Canadiens would battle valliantly in their quarterfinal, losing to the eventual champion North End Flames 1-0 in overtime. To hold a team with such a high-powered offense off the board for 45 minutes is quite an accomplishment! The Red Wings took care of business in their quarterfinal, by beating the PA Westfort Maroons Athletics 8-3, before also falling to the previously mentioned Flames in the semifinals.
All in all, great work by all the players, coaches, managers, families, and friends who came out to support all these kids, and let them hear those cheers from the stands. Thanks to the referees and timekeepers for making sure games went off on time, and safely. HUGE thanks to our friends at Westfort Hockey Association, and their helpers from West End...as always, you have set the bar high to start off the season with a fantastic weekend!!
We look forward to seeing you all in a few weeks at the inaugural Kevin Kozar Christmas Classic, starting December 5th!!
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