Delta Hockey Academy's Bantam Prep team continued its outstanding season on the weekend in the Okanagan by clinching first place in the Canadian School Sport Hockey League.
With two games still remaining, the Wild (11-3-2) locked up the number one seed and home ice advantage throughout the playoffs with a 4-0 win Sunday over the Pursuit of Excellence Academy at Prospera Place in Kelowna. Alberta native Ty Smith notched a hat trick, while Matthew Mosher also scored. Maguire Houlind made 37 saves for the shutout.
The regular season honours came on the heels of Delta continuing its impressive run in tournament play, highlighted by capturing last month's prestigious 37th annual John Reid Memorial Tournament in Red Deer.
The event is considered the top tournament in Canada and the Western United States for Bantam AAA teams. Only 16 were accepted with over 60 applying for tournament entry.
The Wild went undefeated in the round robin portion of the JRMT, beating the
Calgary Sabres (6-3), Anaheim Jr Ducks (3-0) and Sherwood Park (5-2). In the quarter-finals, Delta faced the Colorado Thunderbirds, coached by former NHL stars Joe Sakic and Adam Foote, and won 4-1. Next up was the No. 1 ranked North Shore Winter Club. After falling behind 3-1, the Wild stormed back and dominated the
second half of the game winning, 6-3. The result sent the boys into the final against the Calgary Junior Flames. The Wild broke a scoreless deadlock with a pair of second period goals, before the Flames cut the lead in half with a power play tally shortly before the intermission.
Calgary pushed hard for the remainder of the game but, with some outstanding goaltending from Houlind, Delta held on for the 2-1 win.
Smith was named the tournament's top defenseman and overall MVP. Houlind (Langley) earned the top goalie award and Brendan Budy (Langley) was selected as an all-star forward. Matt Mosher (White Rock) was named the championship game's MVP, while blueliner Luke Zazula (Langley) earned the Hustle and Heart Award.
It was the Wild's fourth tournament win of the season. Earlier triumphs came at the Chilliwack AAA Invitational, the Rocky Mountain Classic in Calgary and the Kamloops International Bantam Ice Hockey Tournament.
Coached by Vancouver Giants assistant and former NHLer Yogi Svejkovosky, the Wild' roster features seven players from Langley and four from White Rock.
Icing... The Delta Hockey Academy's Bantam Varsity team has also secured first place with a 13-2-1 record after doubling the Pursuit of Excellence 4-2 on Sunday.
