Local youth hockey is gaining ground overseas.
The Cayman Islands Kings travel hockey team claimed its first overseas medals last week. At the Sunshine State Games in Ft. Myers, Florida the 10 and under group claimed gold while the 12U squad earned silver.
One of the people most proud with the side’s success is team manager Colleen Stoetzel. The wife of Kings team coach and Athletic director Ray Singh, Stoetzel formed the side using 17 of the best talents in the Logic Youth Roller Hockey League. The team’s official photographer states the medals are validation for the team’s preparation.
“The 10U team? Three words – skate, skate, skate,” Stoetzel said. “By our last two games, we were able to get the players to focus by stressing strong skating. Every time Coach Ray said those words, the kids got pumped and ready to go.
“The Kings definitely improved since their first trip to Florida. I was so impressed with every player. It’s such a change from the Saturday games. It was evident the 12U team has matured through the past year. The players were analysing the opposing teams and talking about best strategies to make better plays. They became a team!
“I was also extremely impressed with the sportsmanship of both our teams. No matter what the score, what play just happened, the kids remained positive and supported each other. These kids just wanted to play!”
Forming the Cayman team were players Alex Agemian, Andrew Antonysraj, Tynan Klein, Ben Williams, Alex Wilkins, Ethan Hersant, Graeme Hill, Mack Moser, Jacob Walters, Nicole Whittaker, Ryan Lloyd, Jamie Williams, Danny Link, Hunter Wilkom, Matthew Wilkins, Joshua McCartney, Alex Jones and Gari Sanfilippo (USA).
The 10U team skated for gold by beating team Mini-Muffins 5-3 in the final. The result was sweet revenge for Cayman as the Mini-Muffins had won a round-robin match 8-2 earlier in the tournament. The 12U squad meanwhile lost 5-3 in their final to the same side that beat them 8-1 in round robin play.
Both results come as the Kings travel hockey programme celebrated its one year anniversary this month. The Sunshine State Games, now in its fourth decade of competition, is the nation’s oldest state games and is Florida’s longest standing multi-sport festival. The mission of the Games is to provide quality competition for Florida’s amateur athletes through local and international competition.
For more information e-mail Ray Singh at [email protected].
“The 10U team? Three words – skate, skate, skate. By our last two games, we were able to get the players to focus by stressing strong skating.”
COLLEEN STOETZEL
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