The Whistler Winterhawks have found their groove in tournament play.
The local peewee rep team won its second tournament of the year over the weekend at the Port Moody Peewee Remembrance Day Tournament, held from Nov. 7 to 10. Whistler ended up taking the Tambellini Division A title with a 4-2 victory over the Vancouver T-Birds.
Head coach Cam McIvor praised the team's effort, observing the Winterhawks demonstrated a will to win after finding themselves trailing 2-1 in the second period. He added the Winterhawks hemmed the T-Birds in their own zone for much of the third, generating a double-digit advantage in shots in that frame alone.
"It was a very hard-fought battle," he said. "Our team really dominated the second half of the game.
"The team really learned about hard work and how it pays off. They worked as hard as I've seen a hockey team work."
All told, Whistler won four of its five games over the course of the tournament. The team also won gold at the Squamish Minor Hockey Association's Thanksgiving tournament last month, winning all five of its games.
McIvor noted the club got off to a slow start to the year, struggling in the placement tournament and remaining in Flight 5.
"We hope to build off of this very successful tournament and carry that forward into league play," he said.
The peewees weren't the only local squad making a splash over the weekend. The bantam rep team emerged victorious at the Bantam A Remembrance Day Challenge in Coquitlam. Whistler defeated Squamish 5-2 in the championship game, avenging a 4-2 loss earlier in the tournament.
Spud Valley Nordics making plans to start season
Spud Valley Nordics has opened online registration for the 2014-15 season.
The Pemberton-based club offers programming for young skiers aged five to 12, and sessions will begin around mid-December when an appropriate amount of snow has fallen. Training is every Monday at Nairn Falls Campground from 3:15 p.m. until dusk, and will continue until mid-March.
Registration costs $70 per child ($50 for programming and $20 for membership and insurance) and can be completed through www.spudvalleynordics.com.
Participants require skis, poles, boots, and weather-appropriate outdoor gear.
The club is also looking for adult volunteers to work as assistant coaches.
The club's parent information meeting, ski swap, and annual general meeting will take place at the Cottonwood Community Centre on Monday, Nov. 24 at 4:30 p.m.
Those looking for more information can visit the club website or contact Delores Los at 604-894-6182 or dfflos@hotmail.com.
