The NOTL Minor Hockey Association hosted its annual March Break Classic from March 7 to 9, which saw all four Wolves age divisions reach the championship round.
Thirty teams from across the province entered the Meridian Credit Union Arena this weekend and families enjoyed the town’s hotels, restaurants and small businesses.
“We probably could have got more teams, and we had more ice available,” said tournament director James Cadeau, who also coaches the U18s.
He noted the Wolves kept their composure throughout the tournament and competed strongly.
“They’re hard to beat,” said Cadeau.
U9 coach Mike Cwiertniewski, whose son plays in the U11 division, praised the tournament’s balanced competition and the team’s commitment to the game.
“It’s been actually probably one of the most even-keeled tournaments in terms of competition that I think we probably had in a long time,” said Cwiertniewski.
Volunteer coordinator Tracey Hope said the March Break Classic has been a great success for the association and visiting families enjoyed exploring Niagara-on-the-Lake.
“They absolutely love Niagara. We actually had some out-of-town parents who went to wineries between games. It’s done really well, and then to see our teams in the finals is awesome,” said Hope.
The Wolves had several standout moments during the tournament, including back-to-back shutouts in the U18 semi-finals with a 5-0 victory over the Listowel Cyclones, followed by a 7-0 win against the Thorold Blackhawks.
The Midland Centennials defeated the U11 Wolves 7-1 in the championship game. At MCU Arena, the Campbellford Colts edged the U13 Wolves 6-5 for the title
In the U15 division, Caledonia Thunder won the championship with a 5-0 victory over the Wolves, while in the U18 final, Thorold Blackhawks claimed a 5-2 win against the Wolves.
Cadeau pointed out that although the Wolves didn’t win in the finals, the players’ strong performances throughout the tournament proved the hard work of the teams, coaches and staff paid off.
“I’ve basically been living here since 7 a.m. on Friday. I got about three hours of sleep last night, maybe five hours the night before. It’s a lot of work, but it’s fun. It’s rewarding,” said Cadeau.
Cadaeu and his wife run the Sweets & Swirl Café in the NOTL Community Centre and were asked by the town to run the concession stand at the arena.
Standings from the March Break Classic can be found on the NOTL Minor Hockey Association’s website, notlhockey.com/tournaments/1352.
