Mite Majors Battle in Michigan!
Posted on Thursday, March 6, 2008

On October 28,2007 thirteen 8 year olds representing Western Massachusetts and the Springfield Junior Pics Mite Major hockey team won the Regional Qualifier Silver Stick Tournament in Bridgeport CT that gave the Pics an automatic bid to the 46th International Silver Sticks Finals in Saint Clair Shores Michigan on January 24th-27th 2008.

The Silver Sticks tournament placed the top 16 teams in the US and Canada to play against one another. Preliminary rounds were 3 games with the top 4 teams advancing on.

The first game matched the Pics vs the Grosse Ille Islanders out of Michigan. The Pics scored the first two goals and added an empty neater to seal the victory in a tough fought 3-1 victory.

The second game of the tournament matched the Springfield Pics vs. the Detroit Dragons. The Pics got off to a slow start as the Dragons scored the first 3 goals. The Pics did add a late goal by with the goalie pulled to bring the score to 3-1 but it just was not enough as the Pics dropped this game 3-1 to the Dragons.

The third game matched the Pics up against the Geneva Cyclones out of Illinois. The Cyclones entered the game with a 2-0 record beating both the same opponents that the Pics have played (6-3 vs the Islanders and 6-1 vs the Dragons). The Pics were ready to play from the first drop of the puck.

It was an exciting game back and forth with great hustle and hard work and a never say die attitude the Pics held onto a 3-2 victory! This loss gave the Cyclones there first defeat of the tournament and there only defeat in there season!

Unfortunately with a 2-1 record we were not fortunate enough to make the semi finals. The Cyclones made it on goal differential. Out of 16 teams the Springfield Jr Pics were tied for 4th place and that is a tremendous weekend for this group of 8 year old boys. We should all be
proud of the efforts and hard work, Congratulation Pics.

This was an experience the kids,coaches and parents will never forget the caliber of hockey was tremendous and every single player worked there tails off and most importantly had a great time!