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Minor hockey has a banner weekend

Whistler teams bring home four Lions Gate banners The walls at Meadow Park Arena are getting some new decorations after last weekend, where four Whistler teams brought home banners from the Lions Gate League.

Whistler teams bring home four Lions Gate banners

The walls at Meadow Park Arena are getting some new decorations after last weekend, where four Whistler teams brought home banners from the Lions Gate League.

One of those banners was won at home by the Whistler Winterhawks Atom C1 team, which edged the North Shore Winter Club 7-5 on Sunday afternoon as Whistler hosted the Lions Gate League Series and Capilano Series divisions. More than 23 teams, including two Whistler teams, took part. Atom players are 9-10 years old.

The two teams were vying for the top spot in the division all season, winning one and losing one in their previous meetings. In the end, the North Shore Winter Club took the regular season banner by just one point, with Whistler losing a sportsmanship point with too many penalty minutes in one game.

The Winterhawks were determined not to lose the championship banner as well, and came out strong in their home game.

Winterhawk Brendan Lee led off the scoring in the first period, draining a penalty shot that was called after the defender covered up the puck with his hand.

"It was the coolest thing. Brendan Lee got the puck and put it in there with everybody watching. The place went nuts and the guys were so pumped," said Gary Martin, who manages the Whistler Minor Hockey Association Atom league with his wife Kim.

The Winterhawks kept up the pressure throughout the game, and although the North Shore Winter Club made it close, the Winterhawks had a two goal lead in the last few minutes of play to win the banner.

After the game, both teams were presented with their banners and the MVPs for each team were awarded. For Whistler the award went to Lee, who scored three goals during the game.

Captain Paul Young contributed two goals to the winning effort, and Douglas Mosher and Reis Bush knocked in one apiece. Austin Clemente and Mosher tallied two assists each, and Zach Astle and Jonas Horvath had one assist.

Darel Lee was the team manager, the head coach was John Grills, and Todd Busyh and Lori Astle were the assistant coaches.

Hunter Pasenon was the goalie, and the list of players includes Zach Astle, Reis Bush, Austin Clemente, Michael Clemente, Clayton Ferron, Brendan Grills, Arlon Harris, Jonas Horvath, Byron James, Brendan Lee, Douglas Mosher and Paul Young.

The Whistler Winterhawks Atom C2 team played for third place overall, facing the North Vancouver Ice Dragons C8 team on Saturday evening. The Winterhawks took that game 6-5 in another close contest.

Sean Wilson was the head coach of the C2 team, assisted by Cam Fellows, Bob MacPherson and Doug Fairley. The team manager was Sheena Fairley.

The goalie was Chad Anderson. Eric Coates led the offensive effort with two goals and two assists, and Jeremy Fairley and Mark Smith netted one goal and one assist apiece. Lucas Quinn and Wyatt Fellows each contributed a goal while Cody Wilson and Jason-Keesun MacPherson racked up assists.

Other banners went to the Whistler Winterhawks Peewee A team, the Peewee C team and rep teams, as well as the Bantam Whistler C1 Team.