The Novice Muskrat Voyageurs team members are, front from left, Connor England and Gavin Legree. Second row from left, Dan Enright, Will Johnson, Colton Vereyken, Cedrick Dionne, Maxim Dube and Kolton Lemay. Third row from left, Travis Robinson, Ryab Yuke, Kael Davidson, Andrew Enright, Alaina Matheson, Hailie Brenner and Maxime Gagnon. Bench staff in the back are, from left, Assistant Coach Derrick England, Head Coach Martin Dube and Assistant coach Jeff Johnson. Photo submitted
by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
COBDEN — The Novice Muskrat Voyageurs are travelling to St. Clair Shores, Michigan to compete in the International Silver Stick Tournament this weekend.
Last November, they participated in the local Silver Stick Tournament in Pembroke and won all five of their games, advancing them to the international competition.
Manager Jennifer Vaillancourt said the team is made up of 15 seven and eight-year-old hockey players from Cobden, Beachburg, Westmeath, Fort Coulonge and Bryson. Some are second year players.
Heading to the international competition, the Voyageurs are in first place in their division. They have played 18 games, winning 15 and losing three, for a total of 30 points in the regular season, Ms. Vaillancourt noted.
The team is hopeful of getting enough sponsors and donations to help cut down on their own expenses, she said, noting travel alone will be about $6,000.
“We’re accepting donations,“ Ms. Vaillancourt said, adding, “Every little bit helps.”
Home Tournament
This past weekend, the Novice Muskrat Voyageurs hosted its home tournament at the Astrolabe Arena in Cobden.
It was a heart-wrenching loss for the team in the ‘A’ championship to Char Lan, a team from near Cornwall. It was a 6-1 defeat, with Maxim Gagnon scoring the lone goal assisted by Kolton Lemay.
The Char Lan scorers were Camden McCuaig with a hat trick and singles by Liam Gray, Matt McDonell and Adam Mailhot. Assists were earned by Mailhot, Gray, McDonell and Brady Bell.
In the ‘B’ final, Renfrew Timberwolves defeated Pembroke Kings 5-1 while in the ‘C’ final, Petawawa Patriots shut out Valley Storm 11-0.
To get to the ‘A’ final, the Muskrats defeated the Pembroke Kings 6-2 in Game 1. Twanging the twine for the Muskrats were Maxim Dube and Kolton Lemay with two each and singles by Cedrik Dionne and Ryan Yuke. Assists were earned by Alaina Matheson, Kael Davidson, Colton Vereyken, Andrew Enright and Yuke. Scoring for Pembroke was Emery Spital and Cohen Van Horne, while assists were earned by Kobe Gregoire and Ben Shreenan.
In other games, the Renfrew Timberwolves edged the Petawawa Patriots 5-3 and then the Pembroke Kings defeated Valley Storm 4-1. Char Lan then shutout the Patriots 5-0 and edged Renfrew 4-3. The Muskrats shutout the Valley Storm 13-0. Scoring for the Muskrats were Maxim Dube with five, Ryan Yuke and Hailie Brenner with two each and singles by Kael Davidson, Kolton Lemay, Dan Enright and Cedrick Dionne. Assists were earned by Yuke, Lemay, Colton Vereyken, Dube, Brenner, Dionne and Kael Davidson.
The bench staff members are coach Martin Dube, assistant coaches Jeff Johnson and Derek England, Trainer Martin Gagnon and Ms. Vaillancourt as manager.
Whitewater News wishes luck to the Novice Muskrat Voyageurs as they compete at the International Silver Stick Tournament this weekend.
