On Sunday, August 3 before a capacity crowd in the Colenzo W. Bowles Arena the sweep was complete. In the first championship game gold was guaranteed as the powerfully offensive Belleville Predators played the defensively sound Penetang Blazers. The Blazers defensive game plan to outnumber the opposition in every zone on the floor would prove to frustrate and keep the high flying offense of the Predators at bay. The game would not be decided until the final minute of play on a goal by Kristoff Kontos, his second of the game from Penetang who would go on to win 3-2. As this was the inaugural year for the event both teams would gather at center for a group team photo.
Prior to the U17 final we are honored by a special guest taking part in the ceremonial face off. Kyle Hawkins Schultz, member of the 2008 U-20 Team Canada which captured gold at the recent World Ball Hockey Championships in St. Johns, Newfoundland. Schultz from Belleville was picked up for U-19 Nationals by the Penetang Blazers.
The U17 championship was won by an Ontario team since its inception three years ago and what a show the Belleville Bulls put on.
The Bulls were lead up front by Andrew Shaw (16 pts) Dustin Walsh (15 pts), the dynamic duo were unstoppable throughout the tournament and that held true in the championship final as both would lead the team with four points each in the game. The team would score an incredible 41 goals for and only allow 4 goals in six games.
The U19 championship would see two familiar provinces battle for the championship as this would be the fifth straight year as Alberta team, Edmonton Royals would face off versus an Ontario club, Penetang Blazers.
This was an exciting game with both goaltenders Ken Shank, Tournaments Most Valuable Goalie and Brian Valentine, Tournaments Most Valuable Player thwarting each teams chances and keeping the game close throughout.
The Blazers jumped out to a 2-0 lead after one period of play and seemed to lay back and wait for a Royals mistake, but the opposite occurred early in the second period as the Royals scored a goal early in the second period to get within one. The teams would not be able to capitalize for the reminder of the game as both goaltenders would make some incredible saves keeping this game close until very late in the second period on a broken play the Brad Baum would score the all important insurance marker giving the Blazers their first U19 National Championship.
For a complete list of game results and statistics visit www.cbha.com. Next year marks the 10th anniversary for the Junior Nationals being hosted in Edmonton, Alberta and we look forward to seeing some great ball hockey action.