The Trenton Kiwanis Major Bantam Hawks travelled to Port Huron Michigan over the weekend and returned home with the Tournament Championship, going undefeated in six games to earn the coveted Silver Stick International Trophy.

In their first match against the West Chester Quakers from Pennsylvania, the Hawks earned a shutout victory by a score of 3-0. Joey Scott picked up the shutout victory in net for the Hawks, with a pair of goals coming from Ryan McAlpine. Brad Carruthers notched the other tally for the Hawks with McAlpine and Robert Little earning assists.

The Hawks dominated their second game opponents the Stockton Colts from California with a convincing 6-0 defeated of their opponents. Scott picked up his second shutout win in net. Hawk goals were counted by Mattieu Lecavalier (2), Tyler Green, Mitch Burkitt, Robert Little and Elliot Fledderus. Assists went to Burkitt, Austin Leclerc, Brandon O'Quinn (2), Tyler Mindell, Carruthers, Little, McAlpine, Josh Kuipers and Jake Maynard (2).

The Hawks played their third of the tourney against the tough Sarnia Sting and skated to a 1-1 tie with Jake Murray picking up the score for Quinte West. O'Quinn and Kuipers got the assists on the goal.

The tie secured first place in their bracket for Quinte West and moved them to the Quarterfinals where they met the St,. Mary's Rock. In an convincing 4-1 win, Mitch Burkitt lead the way for Quinte West with the hat trick with O'Quinn picking up the other goal. Murray (2), O'Quinn, Kuipers (2), Maynard (2), Lecavalier and McAlpine earned assists on the goals.

With the victory, the Hawks moved into the semi finals against their Lakeshore League opponents the Whitby Wildcats. In an entertaining end to end game the Hawks came out with a hard fought 5-3 victory to move to the final. After a scoreless first period in which the Hawks rang two off the crossbar, the Wildcats got on the board three minutes into the second period. Quinte West came storming back scoring less than twenty seconds later to tie the game on a hard high shot by Lecavalier, and then moved ahead 2-1 forty seconds after that with Burkitt sliding one under the Whitby netminder.

The final saw the Hawks up against the also undefeated New Hamburg Huskies. Maynard got things rolling for the Hawks in the first when he tipped home a shot from the point by Kuipers. The Hawks went up 2-0 early in the second with Fledderus netting a backhand in front off assists from Burkitt and Kuipers. The Huskies closed the gap to 2-1 two minutes later but the Hawks rebounded and went up 3-1 on a goal from Brad Carruthers who potted a wrist shot from the slot. Fledderus and Kuipers assisting on the play. The Hawks increased their lead to 4-1 at the end of the second with Lecavalier netting a power play marker with Maynard and Little notching assists. The Huskies made a game of it scoring late in the second and early in the third but the Hawks held on for the 4-3 victory to earn the Tournament Championship.

Capping off the honours for the Hawks were team Captain Tyler Mindell and Assistant Captain Mitch Burkitt who were named to the tournament All Star roster.

The Hawks next action is Wednesday at 8pm at the Community Gardens against Belleville in the opening match of the second round of Lakeshore League Playoffs.

Picture attached: Front Row L-R: Elliott Fledderus, Jake Maynard, Tyler Mindell, Joey Scott, Mitch Burkitt, Brandon O'Quinn, Connor Gunter, Robert Little Back Row: Assist. Coach Geordie Maynard, Head Coach Tim Neron, Brad Carruthers, Tyler Green, Josh Kuipers, Matt Lecavalier, Ryan McAlpine, Jake Murray, Austin LeClerc, Trainer Brad Little, Asst. Coach Pat Scott, Manager Lorainne O'Quinn. return to main page