The Stirling Blues U9MD team continued their dominant undefeated season with another stellar performance over the weekend, claiming the Championship title at the Showdown in Bellevegas Tournament.
The Blues kicked off the tournament in commanding fashion on Friday, overpowering the Leitrim Hawks with a resounding 14-0 victory. Later in the day, they faced a tougher challenge against the Arnprior Cobras but emerged victorious once again with a solid 6-2 win.
Saturday morning saw the Blues maintain their momentum with another lopsided victory against the South Stormont Selects. Their round-robin play concluded with an emphatic 15-0 triumph over the Ottawa Blackburn Stingers, securing them the top spot in the tournament standings.
In the semi-finals, the Blues faced off against the Norfolk Knights in a highly intense matchup. Overcoming a rowdy crowd, unsportsmanlike opposition, and physical play from the Knights, the Blues remained focused and disciplined, securing a 6-2 victory to earn a spot in the Championship game.
The final showdown was a true battle of Quinte, as the Blues squared off against the U9MD Quinte West Hawks. With many players from both teams set to be teammates in the spring, the game carried an extra layer of competition and intensity. In a tightly contested battle, the Blues held their ground and stayed true to their style of play, ultimately securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory to claim the tournament title.
Points over the weekend came from Nolan Wilkinson (game-winning goal in Championship) with 18 points, Owen Jenkins with 12 points, Mitchy Montgomery with 11 points, Blake Buxton with 8 points, Jack Lyman, Colton Jeffs, Easton Sills, Duncan Locke and Olivia Fields all with 6 points, Ty Brown with 4 points, and Turner Pollock with 2 points. Goalies Elliott Eady and Eli Gunning each had 2 shutouts in the tournament
With the championship in hand, the Blues will now refocus with a couple of practice sessions before hitting the road on Thursday for a snowstorm make-up game against the Brighton Bolts at 6 p.m. in Brighton. The undefeated streak continues, and the Stirling Blues show no signs of slowing down.