Elliot Lake’s Wildcats U9 hockey team took top spot in a weekend tournament in Sault Ste. Marie to extend the team’s winning streak.
“The kids have been through so much in the last two years, it was such an incredible experience to watch them come together as a group and not only compete but beat teams from the larger centres and come away with this championship," said coach Kyle Bender. "They have been working so hard all year, they truly deserve this. I am so proud of every one of them.”
The team is comprised of 6-to-9-year-olds from Elliot Lake and Cutler and has played to a 6-0 win record in the Central Algoma Hockey League in a shortened regular season.
This past weekend’s tournament ran from March 3 to 6.
“The tournament was their annual Soo Pee Wee Extravaganza tournament,” coach Bender said. “Elliot Lake started off the tournament Friday by beating the Walden Red Wings 5-2, then defeating NUVO Ed (Soo) 8-0. On Saturday the Wildcats defeated Northern Safety and Training (Soo) 8-6. The Wildcats faced off against the Kinzie Adventure Dogs (Soo) in Sunday morning’s semi-final game, coming away with an 8-6 victory. Finally, in the championship game, the team came away with a nail-biting 6-5 win to bring home a gold medal."
Bender also thanked other coaching staff members Dave George, Bucky Seymour and Tom Riddell for their work.