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A CHAMPIONSHIP EFFORT – The Kal Tire Pee Wee Mustangs back: head coach Ken Anderson, assistant coach Ryan Kinney, Axel Anderson, Noah Kinney, Brayden Baldwin, Kaelan Basnett, Evan Hays, Drake Cooper, Cache Leonard, manager Tanya MacKenzie, assistant coach Ryan Bursey, front: Kadyn O’Brien, Emery Twardochleb, Seth Neunherz, Rian Strand, Alix Walchuk, Rowan Lang, Brody Nash, Ben Fecteau, and Treytin Frizzell defeated Nelson for gold at the Golden Rockets Aeros Tournament in Golden, B.C. Feb. 23.

Peewee Mustangs are golden in Golden

The Kal Tire Peewee Mustangs went unbeaten in the Golden Rockets Aeros Tournament in Golden, B.C. from Feb. 21-23.

By John Tonin on March 4, 2020

The Kal Tire Peewee Mustangs went unbeaten in the Golden Rockets Aeros Tournament in Golden, B.C. from Feb. 21-23. Their unbeaten record in round-robin play earned them a berth in the final against Nelson where they overcame a 2-1 deficit to force a shootout.

“The game was really exciting,” said head coach Ken Anderson. “We were down 2-1 with about a minute left and we pulled the goalie. It came together. We tied the game and we got to a shootout.

“Fortunate for us but not too fortunate for the Nelson kids but that’s why you play the games.”

After the buzzer sounded on regulation time, there was no overtime period, it went straight to the shootout.

“We went to five shooters in the end,” said Anderson. “We ended up winning in the fifth round. Our goalie, Alix Walchuk, she played really good.”

Accomplishing the comeback showed perseverance from all the players, said Anderson.

“It really showed them that they can persevere,” said Anderson. “If there is a little bit of adversity they proved that they can rise up and overcome that. It was good to see that.”

Anderson said shootouts are something the team works on in practice but when the players are in that situation, it’s difficult to know who is going to come out on the winning end.

The Mustangs have played in a number of tournaments this season, but have come up short. Anderson said the team has shown lots of growth.

“I think there is a lot of improvement skill-wise and team concept-wise as well,” said Anderson. “It’s been quite a bit of improvement. Like a lot of teams, it’s if we get them to play a full game.

“That’s what we are kind of dealing with now, to see if we can keep the pace and focus for a full sixty minutes.

“If we can get them to start the game at a good tempo and doing things the right way and carry that through the game we are usually successful, or at least competitive.”

In Golden, Anderson said the team began showing more consistency and the gold medal victory is a reflection of their hard work and their jelling as a team.

“In the last month or so they’ve come together as a team,” said Anderson.

The Mustangs defeated Golden 4-3 and the Knights 10-1 in round-robin play. Being unbeaten is a position the Mustangs have been in before, however, they did not achieve the desired result.

Winning in Golden, Anderson said, was a good confidence boost after falling short in previous tournaments.

“We were in that situation in a previous tournament,” said Anderson. “We were first in the round-robin but lost in the semifinal. They’ve seen both sides of coming first.

“They did learn something. You can never underestimate your opponent and every game is a new game. I think they learned that lesson.”

Anderson was pleased with the on-ice performance but was happier with how they conducted themselves away from the rink.

“As a team, off the ice, they came together really good,” said Anderson. “They’ve been doing that all year. You are seeing the kids jelling as a unit and doing stuff together.

Everybody is included and that’s a big thing about sports that’s so valuable.

“It’s not just on the ice it’s off the ice. It was good to see all that.”

The next tournament for the Mustangs will be the B.C. Provincials beginning March 14.

Anderson said he hopes the team will carry the momentum forward.

“From a confidence point of view, any time you win something, and there were some competitive games as well, that’s important for your confidence,” said Anderson. “They’ll be taking the time to make the right play. They won’t feel rushed.

“Hopefully it translates over to provincials and I think it will.”

During practice, Anderson said they will work on shoring their overall game.

“I think just a little bit more compete, battle for the puck, is important. A lot of the times the games come down to those tiny little things. If you get the puck it’s not a goal if you don’t, maybe it’s a scoring opportunity for the other team.

“We’ll focus on quite a bit of that. Body position and the defensive side of the puck.”

B.C. provincials will begin March 14. Last year, the Peewee Mustangs won gold and Anderson said the hopes the team can repeat on that success.

“Hopefully we can continue that tradition,” said Anderson. “We are certainly going to give it our best.”

By JOHN TONIN Sports Editor

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