2009 Philadelphia Regional Silver Sticks Champions

2009-12-03

The Flyers win the Silver Sticks..The Flyers win the Silver Sticks

In what can only be described as dramatic fashion, the Philadelphia Little Flyers Squirt Major Team captured the 2009 Philadelphia Regional Silver Sticks Championship. The weekend began on a very positive note as the Flyers beat a hard working Mid Fairfield Blues team 6-1. On Saturday the Flyers faced a very formidable foe in the Boston Junior Terriers, winning 1-0 on a goal by Shane Moran and outstanding goaltending by Zach Kinard. Saturday night brought another victory by the Flyers in a 5-2 win over the New Jersey Avalanche. With these three wins, the stage was set for a match up with the Washington Little Caps. These teams had played 4 hard fought games this year with a win a piece and two ties. The Flyers came out flying in their early morning game, and dominated the scoring enroute to a 4-0 win. Advancing to the semi-finals meant playing a very strong Carolina Junior Hurricanes team, which was gunning for a trip to the finals. The play was spirited, and both teams had great scoring chances early in the game. Goals by Joe Mancuso, Matt Mood and Peter White propelled the Flyers to a 4-1 win and a spot in the Big Dance with the NJ Colonials for the Silver Sticks Championship.
The finals brought two of North Americas best teams together in what promised to be a hard fought battle. The Flyers had handed the Colonials their only loss in an early season game, but the Colonials had dominated their matchups following the loss.
The game started with both teams working extremely hard, and lead to scoring opportunities and great goaltending. Early in the second period a point shot from Flyer Casey Crockett was deflected in front, caroming off the inside of the left post and sliding out of harms way. "I felt like that was our big chance, and we might be snake bitten", said Colin Felix, Flyer's defenseman. With just under 90 seconds to play, Joseph Cavaliere was whistled for a penalty giving the Colonials a power play. The Colonials showed their power play magic, controlling the puck in the Flyers zone and getting several scoring chances only to be turned away by outstanding goaltending by Zach Kinard. With the clock ticking down under 40 seconds, Flyer Colin Felix gained control of the puck in his defensive zone making an outlet pass to Albert Washco streaking down the right side, Albert dashed down the right wall into the Colonials zone with two opposing players leaning on him. He continued to drive toward the net as fellow winger Hunter Canestra approached from the off side wing. Washco shot the puck as Canestra crashed the net and tipped home the only goal of the game, a shorthanded tally with 26 seconds remaining. The game ended on a flurry in front, and Ladies and Gentleman, the Philadelphia Flyers Squirt Major Team are your 2009 Silver Sticks Philadelphia Regional Champions....The Flyers will battle in 2010 National Silver Sticks Tournament in January in Sarnia, Ont. Good luck Little Flyers!!