STARTING LINEUP
Richmond Royals midgets win Alliston tournament as part of strong season Hard work has paid off for the Richmond Royals midget B White team with two tournament victories and a top-four regular-season finish in the LCMHL midget B division. In January the Royals won three games and lost one to capture the 75th Bradford Bulldogs Blue & Gold Classic Hockey Tournament in Alliston, near Toronto. Earlier, the Royals won a tournament hosted by the Kemptville Panthers. In Alliston, the Royals kicked off the event with a 6-0 win over the Twin Centre Stars No. 1 Team. Brad Parks was named game MVP. In game two, Richmond beat the Twin Centre Stars No. 2 Team 4-0. Lucas Donaldson received the
MVP award. Next up was the Bradford 2 Team, which beat Richmond 4-2. Nick Steinbacher was MVP. Anticipation, nervousness and excitement filled the air as the Royals prepared for the championship game. When the final buzzer sounded, Richmond earned the title with a 5-1 victory. The game’s MVP was TJ Sammon. On the long ride home, Richmond Munster Minor Hockey Association President Joe Milroy awarded the following players with Esso Medals for their overall contribution to the team: Robert Burwash (Most Sportsmanlike Player); Luc Kilabuck (Most Improved Player); and Josh
Woodruff (Most Dedicated Player). At the Kemptville tournament, a great rivalry took place as both Richmond teams and an Osgoode Rideau team were registered. In the final, Richmond beat Kemptville 4-3. The three stars were Woodruff, Mitch Alma and Burwash. Members of the Royals are: Mitch Alma, Robert Burwash, Matthew Smith, Luc Kilabuk, Lucas Donaldson, Riley Matthews, Carter Lalonde, Brad Parks, Jared Ryan, Craig Wytenburg, Dalton Kerr, Dylan Dziadyk, Joshua Woodruff, Nick Steinberg, Giuliano Thornhill and TJ Sammon; Bob Easy, head coach. Row: Mike Matthews, assistant coach, Steve Lalonde, assistant coach, Ward Smith, trainer.
Gloucester Rangers minor atom “A” green team golden in Verdun The Gloucester Rangers minor atom A Green team took first place at the 22nd edition of the Verdun Atom National Tournament, CC Division, over the Feb. 1 weekend in Verdun, Que. Over three days, the Rangers faced six challenging teams, and worked their way to gold one game at a time. The Rangers played their first game against the Frontaliers Coaticook/ Stanstead, winning 1-0. Energized by their first-game victory, the Rangers kept the momentum going and won their next two games against the Ottawa Sting (5-1) and the Tornades Versant Ouest (7-0). On Saturday afternoon, the Rangers played a nailbiter against the Blitz De Varennes, pulling out a 2-1 win in overtime to earn a berth in the semi-finals. On Sunday morning, they defeated the Maroons
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De Lachine 3-1 to book a spot in the championship game. In the final, the Rangers faced Cobras Lasalle/Westmount. Gloucester scored first to take a 1-0 lead after one period. The Cobras tied the game in the second period before the Rangers answered with a goal late in the frame. The third period began with a third Rangers goal, but the Cobras remained undaunted throughout the third. The team from Quebec gave one last push, pulling its goalie for an extra attacker, but the Rangers put the puck into the empty net to win 4-1. “We didn’t come here thinking we were going to win,” said Rangers head coach Bruce Pickard. “Our goal was to make the semi-finals, but the kids really stepped it up and this was an excellent result. “There is very good competition
here, but it’s also about the little things like the chocolate milk and apples the kids get at the end of the game.”
Rangers minor atoms celebrate at Verdurn tournament. PHOTO BY JOHN STERLING CENTRE ICE APRIL2013