This story was published in the Winter 2023 edition of Total Sports Quinte magazine
Three local teams have earned a berth at the International Silver Stick Finals in Newmarket from Jan. 26 to 29.
Competing at that Silver Stick Finals in their respective divisions included the Quinte West Golden Hawks in U10 A, the Belleville Jr. Bulls in U12 AA and the Quinte West Golden Hawks in U14 A.
Quinte West’s 416 Wing U10 Golden Hawks won the Northumberland Regional Silver Stick qualifying tournament Nov. 25-27 in Cobourg after eliminating two undefeated teams in the playoff rounds. The Golden Hawks, which won two out of their three round-robin games, eliminated the 3-0 Ottawa West Golden Knights with a 6-3 win in the semifinals and went on to defeat Whitby Wildcats Blue – which had three wins and a tie to that point – 7-4 in the championship final.
Team members are Max Taylor, Blake Gregory, Connor Rice, Connor Williamson, Holt Poirier, Lucas Corbin-Miron, Brent Conrod, Wade Robinson, Cullen Bovine, Michael Villeneuve, Colby MacDonald, Spencer Tamlin, Lucas Scriver, Alex Brant, Benry Prinzen, Kaden Van Gemeren and Kye Ralph. The staff includes head coach Rob MacDonald, assistant coach Nic Robinson, trainers Brian Bovine and James Williamson and manager Brianne MacDonald.
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Belleville’s Duvanco Homes U12 Jr. Bulls were victorious at the Sylvia Tremblett Silver Stick qualifying tournament in Georgina from Dec. 1 to 4.
They went undefeated in six games to qualify for the International finals. After posting a 3-0-1 record in round-robin play, the Bulls edged the Barrie Colts 3-2 in the semifinals and the Eastern Ontario Cobras 3-2 in the championship final.
Team members are Rowyn Haley, Kyler Patterson, Dominique Di Genova, Jack Woods, Mark Redden, Taguen Doran, Charlie Crawford, Ryan Brearley, LJ Dupont, Brody Randle, Mack Wylde, Eli Jones, Luke Babbs, John Dorey, Lincoln Walt, Carter VanSoelen and Ryden Ray.
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Quinte West’s Nomad U14 Golden Hawks won their first four games at the Northumberland Regional Silver Stick qualifying tournament Nov. 25-27 in Cobourg, but came up short in the final with a 3-1 loss to the also undefeated Clarington Toros.
Thanks to their runner-up status and strong Ontario Minor Hockey Association season to date, the Golden Hawks were offered an available berth at the International finals. As of mid-January, the team was 14-3-2 through 19 OMHA Lakeshore League regular season games.
Team members are Owen Curran, Nico Toussaint, Logan Fonger, Elijah MacDonald, Kale Tawse, Joey Nieman, Riley Kavanagh, Fynn Ralph, Malcolm Brooks, Malachi Hoornweg, Hunter Bradbury, Antonio Popiel, Cohen Heales, Keegan Goulah, Rhys Lawrence, Andrew Gilson and Cam Slone. The staff includes head coach Chris Harron, assistant coaches Ian Brooks and Chris Heales, trainer Mark Thurston and manager Heidi Tawse.