Morgantown Blades Mite I Travel Team – Three Rivers Cup Champions
(Front row) Goalie Brayden Wilson; (Second Row from left to right) Nate Goldcamp, Quintin Smith, Carter Kline, Carter Patrick, and Corder Helmick; (Third Row from left to right) Travis Brown, Daniel Kourtsis, Ridgely Fahey, and Alex Minger; (Back Row from left to right) Assistant Coach Mike Smith, Head Coach Mike Patrick, and Assistant Coach Cory Kourtsis
triumphant The Morgantown Blades Mite I Travel Team was crowned champions of the Three Rivers Cup Hockey Tournament in Pittsburgh, PA over the Thanksgiving Holiday. The team won 4 straight games on their way to the title. In the first game, the Blades got past the Pittsburgh Aviators I by a 6-3 margin. Next, the Blades defeated the Pittsburgh Aviators II 8-3. In the final game of the round robin portion of the tournament, the Blades easily defeated the Ajax Knights out of Ontario, Canada by an 8-1 count. Corder Helmick was goaltender for the 1st and 3rd games and Brayden Wilson performed the net-minder duties in the 2nd game.
In the championship game, the Blades were matched up again with the Aviators I team who play out of the Airport Arena in Pittsburgh. The championship battle for the rights to the cup was a nail biter to the end. Morgantown got out to an early 3 goal lead only to allow the Aviators to tie the game at 4-4 in the 3rd period. Morgantown hung tough, though, and Carter Kline put the Blades ahead to stay with a nifty short side shot that found its way past the Aviators net-minder. The Aviators called time out with under 2 minutes to play to set up an offensive play and pull their goaltender for an extra attacker. The Blades held off the following onslaught and were able to force a face-off in the neutral zone with 42 seconds remaining in the game. Morgantown called timeout to rest their weary players and prepare to close out the game. Immediately off the face-off, Carter Patrick was able to push the puck across the blue line while falling off his skates. While sliding on his belly, Patrick was able to get enough on the puck to send it into the empty net and assure Morgantown the championship. The final score was Morgantown 6 and the Aviators 4. Brayden Wilson performed admirably in goal for Morgantown throughout the championship game.
Defenseman Quintin Smith won the tournament MVP award for his hard work and selfless play on defense throughout the weekend tournament while also contributing 1 goal and 5 assists during the weekend. Other notables: Travis Brown scored a hat trick in the first game of the tourney while playing defense; Ridgely Fahey had 2 goals and an assist in the tourney; Daniel Kourtsis played solid defense in a 3 man rotation throughout the weekend and also contributed an assist; Nate Goldcamp contributed a goal and 4 assists throughout the weekend; and Alex Minger contributed 5 goals and 3 assists with 2 of his goals being scored in the Championship game.
CONGRATULATIONS BLADES!!
Last Updated on Wednesday, 06 January 2010 01:12
