The Sunshine Coast Bantam A Blues started out the 2019-20 season with several injuries happening early to reduce the roster, but they continued to battle hard and bring their best to every game.
They started off the season’s placement round in Flight 5 and after proving themselves they were moved up to Flight 4 for the start of regular season. In late October the Bantam As attended the Fall Face Off Tournament in Parksville and took home the gold. They continued to proudly represent the Sunshine Coast at the top of Flight 4 finishing off 2019 with 11 wins, two losses and one tie. At this point the team applied and were approved to move up a flight knowing the competition would be more challenging in hopes to improve their game with more skilled competition. So, they started out 2020 in Flight 3 still down one player to injury but with high spirits and motivation to get all they could from the rest of the regular season.
At the end of January, the Bantam As attended the Tier 3 Tournament in Vernon where they brought home silver in a gut-wrenching loss to the zone team from Terrace. They were the only team to challenge Terrace at the tournament, where the others faced steep annihilations, and held their own and kept the score close. After the tournament, back to a full roster, the boys returned to finish off the regular season ending in the top six.
With a bye in Round 1 of playoffs they entered Round 2 with great hopes to make it to the final four. With some superb hockey they triumphed over Langley to take a spot in the finals, entering the final four as the underdogs up against the Sea to Sky Zone Team and the provincial champions of the last few years, Mission. Primed and ready to play, our boys stepped up and played two of their best games ever, bringing their all and challenging the opponent to the end. Alas, they were eliminated after two losses. All in all this team brought home an astounding 32 wins and moved up two flights this season, making us all very proud.
The Bantam A Team extend their thanks to coaches Coty Haikonen, Brad Wingfield, Trevor Ashley, Curtis Ager and Declan McKevitt and all the volunteers who helped make this a wonderful season. Without their tireless efforts, passion for the game, and taking the time to get to know and develop the skills of each of the kids, none of this would be possible.
Go, Blues!
– By Erin Kellie
