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Elite 15s win the BHA Challenge Cup Tournament

By BWC Media, 12/09/14, 4:30PM PST

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The BWC Elite 15s made the long bus trip to Banff last weekend for the annual Banff Hockey Academy Challenge Cup.  A 16 team tournament that featured midget teams from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and BC.  13 of the teams in the tournament were made up of mostly 16 and 17 year olds while there were 3 15 year old teams.

In the E15s first game they faced a fellow 15 year old team from Lethbridge.  BWC dominated winning 11-3 with a hatrick of hattricks (Gerlib, Evenson, and Poisson) and Kolby Matthews got the win in net.

The next game was against the St. Albert Raiders, a big strong and physical team, St. Albert tried to punish BWC but the E15s passing and skill was superior winning 6-1 and Zakery Myrowich with the win in net.

Later that day was another tough and gritty game between BWC and the Regina Rangers.  Sho Takai came through with a hat trick and Jessie Young blocked a shot late with the score 4-3 and scored the empty netter to give BWC the 5-3 win.  Kolby Matthews gained the win but also a concussion and was sidelined for the rest of the tournament.

In the Semi-finals BWC faced the Prairie Storm from Balgonie, Saskatchewan.  BWC played a solid game winning 4-1 with Myrowich getting the win once again.

This setup the final BWC was hoping for vs Lloydminster Ro’han Rage Minor Midget AAA team.  Last season in Bantam, Lloydminster faced North Shore Winter Club in the Western bantam championship – several players from both teams who met in the western final would meet again in Banff.

Unlike the previous physical games vs the older teams, this final was more of a skilled game.  BWC’s puck movement and skill were evident as they dominated start to finish winning the final 6-1. 

"I felt the team played very well even though the other teams were bigger, stronger and older and when we played teams our age we dominated that much more and that's why we came out on top.” Said BWC captain Evan Walls

“This was a really good experience for our group” said BWC head coach Leland Mack.  “Though the older teams we played weren’t as skilled, they definitely had a big edge as far as size and strength and they punished us all game.  I am proud of how our group battled and played with skill to get through those games.  I really felt we had everyone contribute to this tournament win” Said Mack. 

BWC are back at it this weekend as they host and play 4 games at the CSSHL Elite 15 Showcase weekend.  Details at www.csshl.ca