Most players in the Juan de Fuca Tier 1 peewee Grizzlies team have been playing and competing together for much of their lives.
While most ups and downs have come and gone, the young hockey players have managed to weather through it in rare fashion. The team finished their regular season and round-robin playoffs undefeated.
Their burst of success this year can be attributed to the abundance of skilled players and their attitude and work ethic, Coach Brian Kowalko said. B次元官网网址淭his group is really one of those yearsB次元官网网址heyB次元官网网址檙e just a really well-rounded group of athletes.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淕oing to provincials B次元官网网址� it doesnB次元官网网址檛 happen all that often,B次元官网网址� he added.
ALSO READ: Pee wee Outlaws beat unbeatable team
In regular season Tier 1 league play, the Grizzlies finished with 12 wins and no losses. They went through the playoffs with four straight wins. In the final best-of-three series, the team clinched the provincial spot in game two with a decisive 10-1 win.
Some games this year have been pretty lopsided, manager Kim Stenvig admitted.
Centre Oliver Josephson, 12, first noticed the team getting better in their twice-a-week practices, and said seeing the hard work pay off B次元官网网址渉as been a lot of fun.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 pretty cool to share what youB次元官网网址檝e done and what youB次元官网网址檙e gonna do in hockey,B次元官网网址� he said.
ALSO READ: Group of Juan de Fuca pee wee players selected for provincial team
Left winger Noah Gebicki, 13, said the strong team is B次元官网网址済oing to do really well in provincials.B次元官网网址� He reported confidence in the teamB次元官网网址檚 hard work in the weight room and B次元官网网址渄ry landB次元官网网址� conditioning, and in his coachB次元官网网址檚 ability to B次元官网网址渂oil down mistakes and help when weB次元官网网址檙e not quite there yet.B次元官网网址�
The teamB次元官网网址檚 work ethic over the past four years helps sum up their exceptional achievements, Stenvig said. B次元官网网址淒oing the extra skating lessons, fitness and conditioning, playing other sports has worked, and they are reaping the rewards,B次元官网网址� he said.
Goalie Noah Stenvig, 13, said shots coming in during some of the tighter games kept his role interesting. He said the passion of the core group has him excited for the games ahead. B次元官网网址淧robably to go in as underdogs is going to make us want to win even more,B次元官网网址� he said.
ALSO READ: Saanich Tigers upset Island rivals, win pee wee provincials
The team will be facing a host of talented players when they go against five of B.C.B次元官网网址檚 other best teams during the provincial championships it White Rock. The team will play against Semiahmoo Ravens on opening day this Sunday at 7:15 p.m.
Defenceman Maxime Lavoie, 13, reported the season has been B次元官网网址減retty goodB次元官网网址� and said heB次元官网网址檚 looking forward to B次元官网网址渉aving fun with my teammates.B次元官网网址� His family has been somewhat in jitters leading up to the provincials, but he said he was looking forward to having success.
He added, B次元官网网址渨hen IB次元官网网址檓 nervous, and when I get ready, I try to turn that to energy.B次元官网网址�
swikar.oli@goldstreamgazette.com
