Hockey team takes international tourney

Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, February 22, 2007
Grand Island Dispatch, February 23, 2007

The Niagara Junior Purple Eagles PeeWee Major team took the International Silver Stick Tournament title in Port Huron, Mich., on Jan. 26-28. The team includes, bottom row, from left: Brian Fry, David James, Cory Becker, Alex Kammerer, David Whelan, Tyler Lewis, Zak LaPorte, Richard Minicucci, Brad DeLand. Second Row: Asst. Coach Jeff Klapp, Mike Malaney, Zach Klapp, Derek Stein, Justin Frentzel, Carson Cavers, Kevin Danaher, Tyler Clegg, Mitch LaRiviere. Back row, from left: manager Bob Minicucci, Assistant Coach David James, Assistant Coach Pete Becker, and Head Coach Ralph LaRiviere.

The Niagara Junior Purple Eagles PeeWee Major team just recently won the International Silver Stick Tournament held in Port Huron, Mich., on Jan. 26-28. The Silver Stick International Tournament is made up of teams from the United States and Canada that won a regional qualifying tournament to advance. The NJPE won the Silver Stick regional qualifying tournament held in Rome, N.Y., in December to qualify.

The NJPE went undefeated in the Silver Stick Tournament. They began the tournament with first round wins over the Kincardine Kinucks (4-1), Pembroke Kings (1-0) and the Lambeth Lancers (3-0). Then the Junior Purple Eagles defeated Six Nations (6-0) in the cross-over game. Kincardine won the other cross-over game to set up a NJPE vs. Kincardine championship game. NJPE scored in the first minute of the third period to tie the game at 2-2 and netted the game winner in the forth overtime to win the championship.

In addition to the Regional and International Silver Stick Tournaments, the Purple Eagles PeeWee Major team has won three other tournaments this season: the Vic Teal Tournament, held in St Catherine’s, Ont.; the Thanksgiving Tournament at Dwyer Arena; and the Early Bird Tournament at Dwyer Arena. The Purple Eagles have also gone undefeated in league play so far this season and have qualified for the PeeWee Major New York State Championship to be held in New York City, March 9-11.

The team will be holding an adult social fund-raiser at the Cristoforo Colombo Society, 2223 Pine Ave., Niagara Falls, at 7 p.m. on Feb. 24 to help fund the state championship tournament in New York City. Tickets can be purchased at the door that night or in advance by calling Theresa at 725-9386.