Local Hockey Round-Up: It’s Tournament Time

As far as big hockey tournaments go, the Quebec City peewee tournament recently attended by the 12U Junior Hurricanes is a big one. In total, 31 teams were in their division with countless others in the different brackets featured in the annual tournament.

The local squad went 1-1, winning their first game against the 12U Canadiens by a score of 5-4 before dropping their second tilt 5-1 against the Gatineau Olympiques. Keanu McClanahan (that’s a hockey name if I ever heard one) and John Derrenbacher paced the team in scoring with three points apiece. Stick taps all around to the players and especially the coaching staff who traveled through numerous travel delays and late nights at the hotel with seventeen 12-year-olds...not the easiest of tasks in my humble opinion.

In other news, local youth teams recently completed state tournaments for their age bracket. Tournaments like these hold a place near and dear to my heart. Growing up in Minnesota, the boys and girls state hockey tournament is a huge deal. I always get flack for saying this but hockey is to Minnesota what basketball is to NC only magnified by a billion.

Before I get lost in a trance walking down memory lane, let’s get into the results;

• The 18U AA Junior Hurricanes defended their state title at the Carolina Amateur Hockey Association tournament in Charlotte, and now head to Green Bay, Wisconsin, to defend their 2017 national title at the USA Hockey 18U Tier II national championship.
• Also at the CAHA tournament, the 16U AA Carolina Eagles defeated the 16U Junior Canes to punch their ticket to Wayne, New Jersey for the 16U nationals.
• The 16U Girls Junior Hurricanes bested the Crunch of Tampa Bay 1-0 to win the Southeastern Division championship and will head to Marlborough, Massachusetts, for their shot at the national title.

We want to feature your youth or amateur squad in this column! Send your news, upcoming events, or results to lcgoff11 (at) gmail.com.