The U18 team travelled to Ottawa with 4 other CSSHL Midget Prep teams Feb 9-13th for an Eastern Showcase. The purpose of the trip was exploratory in nature, as the predominantly western based league was looking for programs out east that were interested in joining the CSSHL.
Teams in attendance from the west were Delta, Edge, OHA Red, Yale, OHA Edm while Canadian International Hockey Academy, Hill Academy and Ontario Hockey Academy all fielded teams to compete.
The Delta Midget Prep team started the competition off against what proved to be the toughest and older of the eastern teams in the Hill Academy (1998 & 1999 born) from Vaughn, ON. Despite a sluggish 1st period, as the boys tried to shake the travel legs, it was a hard fought game against an older and physical Hill team. Trailing 1-0 after the first period, Delta pushed back in the second out shooting the opposition 12-4 and tying the score at 1-1. The 3rd continued to be more of the same uptempo, physical hockey, which entertained the couple parents that were in attendance. Delta scored a late goal, which proved to be the winner and also added and empty net insurance goal to finish off the game.
Delta played a second game on the opening day of action against Ontario Hockey Academy. Delta skated with a little more ease in the second game as they were up against the U17 team of OHA which rostered 2000 & 2001 born players. It seemed to be a good match as Delta started slow and gained momentum as the game worn on. A 1-0 lead in the 1st, tuned into a 4-0 lead after the 2nd, before finishing off the opposition with a goal in the 3rd to end the game 5-0.
The second day of action only had 1 game slotted for the Delta boys as they were up against their first opponents little brother Hill U16. These players were similar to the Ontario Hockey Academy in age (2001 & 2000) but played a hard fought game that ended in a a 1 goal game. After coming out with 3 quick goals in the first, Delta sat back while Hill U16 forged ahead mounting a comeback that nearly upset the older Delta team. The final finished 4-3, hopefully a lesson learned by the Delta boys.
The final day of games met the challenges of a bad eastern weather front that brought 25 cent. of new snow. The boys braved the elements (more so the bus driver, Marty found the road through the drifting snow) and was able to get the players to the game safe and sound. The younger of the host CIH teams were in tough against Delta, as their top team pushed Edge to a 3-1 game and Yale to a 4-4 game. Delta started this game fast and finished fast as they skated to a 8-2 victory to close out the showcase event.
The teams final day Monday, proved to be one of the highlights as the team toured the Capital City and the sights that Winterlude Carnival had to offer. Starting with a tour of the Parliament, including the House of Commons and the Senate, was a nice change to the Canadian Government lesson they got in their gr 10 classroom. A trip to Ottawa would not be complete without a skate on the Canal and so the team took off on their skates to skate the length and return back with just enough time to hop on the bus and catch their flight home.
A trip to remember for the Delta Midget Prep team!
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