Day 12: Player Highlights

The hope is to have each player's photo and a comment from them.  I've asked them about their favourite souvenir of the week. 

Riley Crossin, #1, Goaltender

My favourite souvenir is the shutout puck from the Swiss game. 

Carson McDonald, #2, Defenceman

My favourite souvenir was the flags. I have a Quebec City one. 

Nolan Ritchie #9  Forward

My favourite souvenir is my tournament sweater.

Jordie Boyechko #3 Defencemen

My favourite souvenir is my autographed Dougie Hamilton, Boston Bruin pin 

My favourite souvenir is my tournament sweater.

Nolan Slate #17 Defenceman

My favourite souvenir is my tournament sweater. 

Matthew Ramsey #6 Forward

My favourite souvenir is my tournament sweater.

Day 12: Memory Round Up

We have so many great memories to share. We're going to try to blog a few while we wait for our plane. Just our impromptu thoughts on the amazing week:


Diane Thorpe, (Grandma to Ty)
My most memorable moment was the look on the players' faces when they won the Swiss game and knew they were going to the finals. It was priceless! I couldn't have been more proud. 

Dave Thorpe, (Grandpa to Ty)
It was watching them at centre ice after the final and feeling so good about how much of a team they were all week. 

Eva Loewen, (Grandma to Carter)
I appreciated being a part of this wonderful group and seeing first hand how they worked together as a team. 

Larry Fisher, (Grandpa to Matthew Simard) 
I was so impressed with how good the kids were on and off the ice. Unloading bags they always said thank you. And amazed at Le Colisee Pepsi and the thousands of people watching these kids play hockey. 

Ken Loewen, (Grandpa to Carter) 
Hats off to the professionalism of a fantastic team of coaches and organizers who welcomed us as part of the tour. 

Cathie Crossin, (Mom to Riley) I will remember with pride, how well both our goalies played and how they stuck together the whole week throughout dinners, mini stick games and pin trading. And it was a privilege to be able to chronicle the stories here, throughout the week. 

Kevin Nichols, (Dad to Lainie) 
I will remember the work that all the moms, dads, and coaches did to make this happen for the kids and how it brought us so much closer together as a team. 

Marty Jordan, (Dad to Cole) 
The atmosphere and watching the kids and seeing their faces light up when they saw the huge crowd at Le Colisee before our first game. 

Kevin Loewen, (Dad to Carter) 
It was amazing to see and be part of such a grand scale event. To be able to share it with a team that has become as close as family made it extra special. 

Garth Boyechko, (Dad to Jordie) 
The overall experience. This is just something the kids and parents will never forget. 

Jen Anderson, (Mom to Calder) 
The feeling of how proud I am of all the players and coaches. 

Lainie Nichols, (Player) 
When we first got to Le Colisee we looked around and realized how lucky we were and how amazing it was to be here. 


Kassidy Loewen, (Sister to Carter) 
It's really cool that they got 2nd place out of all these teams. I'm really proud of my brother.

Sherry Loewen, (Mom to Carter)
The integrity of this team is so impressive. Despite the early mornings and late nights they were still up promptly and ready to go. They came out fighting every game and despite the disappointing end they still have smiles on their faces and their heads held high. 

Day 11: Game Photos... The Bigger Picture

Day 11: OT Heartbreak

The Brandon Wheat Kings battled hard. They never gave up. They fought to tie the game and they DID, with 2 minutes and 15 seconds left in regulation time. 

We went to overtime and thats when things get murky. 

The referee called for a penalty shot after a pile up in the net. The whistle was blown and the play was dead, but after everyone cleared the crease, he made the call for a penalty shot. 

The St. Albert player scored. And that was that, a 2-1 OT loss. 

There is much more to the day that we want to share. We need to find the right words to express our collective admiration for our team, and the pride we feel for making it to the finals. But right now, this picture tells the story, in that moment. 

Day 11: The Finals

Good morning & welcome to Day 11.

This is exactly where we wanted to be.  We have a chance to win our AA Division.

Parents are heading to the rink to save seats. Players are getting ready.

It's game day. We're playing for the Championship. Puck drops at Noon.

Day 10: Semi Final Saturday: Game photos

photo by Jenn Michalchuk

Day 10: Semi Final Saturday.... Behind the Scenes

Let's go back to the beginning of our Saturday evening semi-final game:

Check out Le Colisee from the players' perspective!

Photos by Rhonda Ritchie