U16A
LaSalle Sabres are Champions of the 20th Annual Capital Winter Classic in Ottawa.
It
was a weekend to remember for a group of U16 boys and their families, who
boarded a team bus bound for Ottawa with dreams of making their mark in one of the
most competitive tournaments of the season. By Sunday evening, those dreams had
become reality — capped off with an unforgettable overtime victory against a
powerhouse opponent.
Our
team, a tight-knit group known as much for their skill as their camaraderie,
faced top-tier competition from across the province. From the opening puck
drop, it was clear the tournament would test not just their skill, but their
resilience playing without 6 team members. Each game became a showcase of
defense, crisp passing, and relentless forechecking — the kind of hockey that
earns respect in every rink.
As
the weekend progressed, the teams faced grew stronger with every round. Parents
cheered, coaches strategized, and teammates rallied behind one another. The
tight semifinal comeback win from down 0-2 against an Ottawa team guaranteed us
a spot in the finals against a highly ranked Sarnia Sting AA club known for its
high skill and speed.
Few
expected the short handed Sabres to keep pace, but they did more than that —
they matched their opponents shift after shift and forced the 1-1 game into
overtime.
Then
came the moment every young athlete dreams about. In the tense minutes of
sudden-death play, a crisp cross ice pass was lined up with the a perfect
one-timer slap-shot that beat the goalie clean and bulged the back of the net,
sealing a hard-fought championship and setting off celebrations that filled the
arena.
Sticks
and gloves flew off. Parents hugged, teammates piled onto the ice, and coaches
exchanged proud smiles that said it all. It wasn’t just the gold medals that
made this victory special — it was the shared journey, the bus ride filled with
laughter, the early mornings, and the unwavering belief that they could win
together.
As
the team headed home to Windsor with the championship trophy, they carried more
than hardware — they brought back memories of teamwork, perseverance, and pride
that will last long beyond the final buzzer.
From
a Proud Coach Todd
