2007.04.30

1997's Win Championship in Outaouais!
Just a week after the Atlantic All Stars 1998 team celebrated their win on the ice in Quebec, Atlantic All Star 1997's were busy hoisting their own championship trophy overhead!

Coached by Yvon Corriveau for the second season, the 97 team set tongues wagging through the Ottawa Valley & Quebec hockey communities with their resounding 7-0-0 stampede - scoring an impressive 43 goals while letting up just 6. "We knew we had the talent, but work ethic and team unity is what really gave us that edge," said the coach. The boys decided early on to play as a team and not just as a group of individuals wearing matching uniforms...and they quickly became a team that absolutely refused to accept defeat. "You saw the determination in every face, in every shift, in every pass, in every blocked shot. They are an amazing group, and I couldn't be more proud of not only how they played, but of who each of them is as a person."

After defeating the Seaway Selects 7-0 in the quarter finals, they met up 3 hours later to play the notoriously strong Ottawa Riot team. A questionable call early on led the officials to grant a penalty shot to the Riot, which they capitalized on tying the score up 2-2 early on...Atlantic All Stars reached down deep, eventually winning the game 8-2.

The finals had them playing their third game that day, not to mention going up against a talented and physically imposing Ottawa Little Senators team on their own turf. After scoring neck and neck goals the first two periods, the Atlantic All Stars never backed down to the Senators intimidation tactics, battling for every puck, and defeating them 5-2 for the Championship Title. An amazing weekend was had by both players and parents alike!

Next stop for the 97's will be the Montreal Minor World Championships in Repentigny, May 11, 2007.