St. Ignace Bantam, Peewee Hockey Teams End Year With Tourney Titles

The St. Ignace Bantam hockey team won the championship at the Mount Pleasant St. Patrick's Day Tournament Saturday, March 15, and Sunday, March 16. Team members include (front) Dillon Kelley; (second row, from left) Gage Christensen, Brennan Danielson, Cody Therrian, Andrew Plomer, Derrick Kelley; (third row) Assistant Coach Doug Goudreau, Caleb Radtke, Ben Paul, Patrick Wyers, Zach Harrington, James Goudreau, Aaron Cook, Head Coach Eric Danielson; (fourth row) Ryan Marshall, Ben Damron, Garrett Lasecki, Assistant Coach Joe Damron, Assistant Coach Bob Sweeney; (fifth row) Tyler Goetz, and Patrick Sweeney. (Photograph by Kathy Marshall)

Both the St. Ignace bantam and peewee hockey teams ended their season on a high note, each capturing the St. Patrick's Day Tournament in Mount Pleasant Saturday, March 15, and Sunday, March 16.

Bantam (Ages 13 and 14)

Coach Eric Danielson's bantam team went 4-1 during the tournament, losing to the Livonia Kings 2- 1 in its second game. The team would avenge the loss in the championship game, shutting out the Kings 4-0.

The St. Ignace Peewee hockey team captured the St. Patrick's Day Hockey Tournament title in Mount Pleasant Saturday, March 15, with a 6-0 victory against the Livonia Bruins. Pictured are (not in order) Noah Anderson (Sault Ste. Marie); Martin Donajkowski (St. Ignace); Chris Dumas (St. Ignace); Keegan Fulgenzi (St. Ignace); Jeremy Goetz (Sault); Ellis Graham (St. Ignace); James Helms (Pickford); Conner Langendorf (Sault); Aaron Lasecki (Sault); Randy Parks (Sault); Eric Schebel (Cedarville); Curtis St. Louis (St. Ignace), and Kyle Winkelman (St. Ignace). Head coach is Scott Winkelman, and assistant coaches are Kevin Goetz and Michael Langendorf. (Photograph by Clayton Graham)

"The first game could've been anyone's," said Coach Danielson. "It was a good goalie game."

In the championship game, Coach Danielson's team scored a short-handed goal in the first and second period, and found the back of the net two more times, on even strength, in the third and final period.

"We played 0.500 hockey all year, going up and down, but we played top notch defense in this tournament," Coach Danielson said. "It was the best hockey we've played all season."

Overall, St. Ignace outscored its opponents 15-7 in the tournament.

The bantam team, with 17 players, finished district runner-up to Tawas, which clinched the state title against St. Ignace, in a 4-3 win, in Negaunee Sunday, March 9.

Eleven of Coach Danielson's players will return for next year, while the other five will move up to the midget AA level.

Peewee (Ages 11 and 12)

Peewee Coach Scott Winkelman's team capped off its season with a 6-0 victory against the Livonia Bruins in the title game. His team allowed in only six goals while scoring 19 times in its four tournament wins.

The team, with 13 players, finished 28-8-6 overall this season, losing in the district semifinals this year.

Nine of Coach Winkelman's 13 players will move up to the bantam level next year.

"I think this was a very good year, especially since we didn't think we'd have a peewee team," said Coach Winkelman.