"We want to win it all."
This Squamish Eagles Atom mantra secured the team a victory over 12 other teams from the Lower Mainland on Thanksgiving weekend.
The team of nine and 10-year-olds played six games from Saturday (Oct. 8) to Monday (Oct. 10) in North Vancouver, with a winning combination of hard work and sheer determination, according to team manager Kal Kaila.
"When Salmon Arm came back from 5-2 to tie 8-8, they were disappointed," said Kaila. "But the next day they just put the pedal to the metal and didn't let them back in the game."
The tournament is the first win for the young players who had never played competitively before entering the Atom division. Although competing against larger municipalities with a much larger pool of kids to draw from, the players held their own and finished the tournament with five wins and one tie.
"They play really well as a team," said Kaila. "It's great to see them work together."
The team also has the stamina to take on a vigorous season.
"They were still pumped at our practice at 5:30 this morning," said Kaila.
And they'll need it. The team and coaches Murray Thrower and Shane Sanderson, now face a demanding season of 60 games.
The Eagles play two games a week, with a home game played every Saturday at 3:45 p.m. at the Brennan Park Recreation [email protected]
