The Sunshine Coast Atom Rep Blues added to the Sunshine Coast Minor Hockey Association's banner year by bringing home their own banner after winning three playoff games last week at the Final Four Tournament in New Westminster.
Playing against three of their greatest rivals of the season - Whistler, Burnaby Winter Club and North Vancouver - the Blues needed everyone on the team to step up with their best efforts.
The Blues opened against Whistler and battled to a 3-3 tie into the third with Blues' goals from Nikolas Hoogendorn with a pair, and from Tyler Zavaglia.
Ethan Geue then stepped up with a great individual effort, spinning around the back of the net just out to the left faceoff circle, and firing a shot top shelf over the goalie's left shoulder for the 4-3 lead.
Whistler pressed for the equalizer, but goalie Karson Partridge stood tall to preserve the win.
Game two against Burnaby was a rough and tough contest.
Tyler scored a pair of pretty goals, and again, the Blues were tied, this time 2-2 into the third period.
Kayan Agnew then fed captain Jaden Fodchuk a great pass in the low slot and he buried one over the goalie's right shoulder for the 3-2 lead.
James Hamilton and Elann Billbach also played strong games, as did Dawson Hall. Assistant captain Brandon Bezaire scored an insurance marker a few minutes later in the 4-2 win.
Game three was last Tuesday against North Vancouver - the same team that snuck into first place over the Blues in the regular season, based on more sportsmanship points.
Thanks to a tie between Whistler and North Vancouver, all the Blues needed was a win or a tie to clinch the banner.
The Blues fell behind 3-1 at the end of the first and 4-2 at the end of the second.
Jake Van Klinken and Jaden scored the goals.
Midway through the third, with the Blues pressing, Tyler Zavaglia cut the lead to 4-3, then Jaden tied the score minutes later.
The Blues continued to press and got insurance markers from Ethan and Nikolas for the 6-4 win and the playoff banner.
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