Wednesday, March 21, 2018

SeaWolves claim Tier 4 Provincial Bantam championship in Kitmat

The Prince Rupert SeaWolves are the 2017-18 Tier 4 Bantam Champs
Prince Rupert won the Tournament finale today 2 -1

(Photo from CityWest coverage of Kitimat tournament)


The Prince Rupert Seawolves have posted a perfect 5-0 record at the Tier 4 Bantam Championship in Kitimat, with the Prince Rupert Minor Hockey Association team claiming a 2-1 victory in rhe final game of the Provincial Tournament,  that after in a hard fought battle with the Langley Eagles.

The two evenly matched teams took to the ice in the tourney finale at 1 PM and the best action of the tournament played out over the next two and a half hours, as the two squads traded scoring opportunities through all three periods of play.

The Seawolves took the lead in the waning minutes of period one, taking the 1-0 lead into the dressing room and holding the margin through the full twenty minutes of the second.

The one goal advantage held into the second intermission for Prince Rupert,  thanks to some strong defensive play and impressive goal tending.

For their part the Seawolves had some good scoring opportunities as well, but found themselves facing a tough competitor in the Langley nets to keep them off the score sheet.

Period three found the Eagles finding an extra gear early in the final frame, firing off the tying marker just shy of the ten minute point of the period, the goal setting the stage from some thrilling hockey to put the cap on the provincial tournament.

Prince Rupert recaptured the lead three minutes later and then weathered a two minute short handed situation, that after a pair of interference penalties in the final five minutes of play.

The odds were reduced a minute later when Langley took their own interference call, easing some of the pressure on the Seawolves defenders who played some smart hockey to keep the puck far from causing any danger as the clock finally ran down.

A few shots at an empty Langley net went wide, but kept the puck deep in the Eagles end, enough to shut down any final opportunities to launch one final rush, the Seawolves running the clock out with some good puck work in their own end.

Indicative of the tight score was the strong play of the goaltenders at both ends of the Tamitik Arena, while the Langley player was tested more frequently than his Prince Rupert counterpart, both played instrumental roles in the close contest and provided for some of the more dramatic moments of the tournament's final game.

With the victory, the Prince Rupert squad collected their gold medals and the Provincial banner which will be brought home to the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre to highlight the Bantam team's successful trek into the Aluminum City.

The Final Standings for the Bantam Provincials are as follows

Gold Medal -- Prince Rupert Seawolves
Silver Medal -- Langley Eagles
Bronze Medal -- Kitimat Winterhawks

Most Sportsmanlike Team -- Windermere Valley


Prince Rupert Goal scoring came from Nolan Weick and Luke Rabel, while Brevin Jack held the Eagles to one goal on the way to the Seawolves tournament championship

The Tournament Facebook page can be found here.

For more items related to Prince Rupert Minor Hockey see our archive page here.


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