Norwest Stars win the U15A Kevin Kozar Christmas Classic!

The U15A Norwest Stars are Champions!  The Stars got out to a strong start in the Kevin Kozar Christmas Classic, winning their first three round robin games to head into the weekend undefeated.  In their final preliminary round game, they met a tough Sioux Lookout Storm team, riding a three-game winning streak of their own.  The two powerhouse teams would trade blows in the back and forth game, with the Storm emerging with a 4-3 win to earn the bye to the semifinals, with the winning tally coming from Tanner Vincent.

Norwest would meet the Thunder Bay Beavers in the quarterfinal, and leave no doubt as to their intentions, blanking the Beavers 3-0 with Nathan Meunier earning the shutout.  The Stars faced an undefeated Dryden Sharks in the semifinals, and flexed their muscle by winning 5-2 behind two goals by Jordan Steckel.  Sioux Lookout faced the Westfort Maroons in the semifinal, and eked out a tough 4-3 win to set up the rematch with the Stars.

In the final, Norwest opened up a 3-1 lead on two goals by Steckel, and one by Zoee Hare, before the Storm would charge back to tie the game at 3 midway through the third.  Ty Pugliese would restore the Stars' lead, only to have Tanner Vincent even it up with 2:01 left in the period with his third of the game, setting up a 5-player shootout for the trophy!

After Sioux Lookout opened the scoring in the shootout in the third round, the Stars would tie it at 1 one round later, eventually setting up a sudden death scenario.  Ty Pugliese scored in the 6th round, and from there, Meunier shut the door to secure the win in the most exciting final of the day.

Congrats Stars, and huge thanks to all the teams, families, and friends who made the U15A division such an exciting one!