WOW! The U12 Norfolk Knights have had an amazing
tournament season in 2022-23!Our quest
for success started early in the season with the St. Catharine’s Early Bird
Tournament on Oct. 14 – 16, 2022. So
early, in fact, that our regular season had not yet begun. The challenge of getting the team
tournament-ready paid off with three wins in regular play against Oakville Blue
(6 – 0), Clarence-Rockland (8 – 1), and Brampton (8 – 0). Our only defeat in the qualifying round was a
hard-fought loss to Oakville Red (3 – 5).
This was a preview of the battle to come in the Finals, losing again to
the ultimate Champions - the same strong Oakville Red (2 – 4). Throw in an additional game on the Saturday
evening against Welland as we played our first Niagara League game (W 14 – 0)
and that’s a lot of hockey for a weekend!
Norfolk Knights Finalists!
A month
later we headed to the St. Thomas Boston Pizza Tournament (Nov. 18 – 20,
2022). Our initial loss to London Jr.
Mustangs Purple (2 – 3), did not deter the team from winning the next three
games against Westmall Lightning (3 - 0), Vaughan Panthers (5 – 0), and Toronto
Avalanche (3 – 0). This put us into the Semi-finals where we lost to the
hometown St. Thomas Stars (3 – 4). The
hometown favourite then went on to take it all in the Finals, showing the team
that our close score meant we were likely going to be strong contenders in
future tournaments. Norfolk Knights Semi-finalists!
The 63rd
Preston International Hockey Tournament (Jan. 13 – 15, 2023) led to another
weekend facing many strong opponents. We
played hard and won against Whitby Wildcats White (6 – 3), Hamilton Huskies (3
– 0), and Collingwood Blues (3 – 1), and tied London Jr. Mustangs White (1 –
1). After regular play we were tied with
the London team and the match-ups for the Semi-finals led to us facing our own Niagara
League rivals – the Haldimand River Kings. A battle to a 5 – 1 win placed us
into the Finals, against the London Jr. Mustangs White. But this time there was no doubt we were
there to take it all. And we did -
defeating the strong London team 4 – 2.
Norfolk Knights Champions!
And the last
tournament took us to East Gwillimbury for the Dunsmuir Memorial Tournament
(Feb 23 – 26, 2023). What a weekend! We were undefeated through the entire
tournament! Regular play wins against
Orillia Terriers (6 – 0), Stouffville Clippers (8 – 2), and East Gwillimbury (5
– 1). A hard-fought win against
Newmarket Renegades (1 – 0) sent us in to the Finals where we met up again with
Collingwood Blues. This game was a reminder
of the last time we met this team in the Preston tournament. So, the players got themselves mentally
prepared and it paid off with a 3 – 0 win.
Norfolk Knights Champions once again!
Our goal of
steady improvement throughout the season was met! Now we need to finish our League playoffs and
work hard for a berth in the upcoming OMHAs.
Well done,
U12 Norfolk Knights! Thanks for the
exciting tournament hockey!