Cayman’s youngsters are getting back on the rink.
Kings Sports Center will launch the 2014 spring season of its national youth league this month along with its beginner skate program. Both initiatives will be part of a busy month for local skaters with the annual street hockey tournament joining the adult roller and ball hockey leagues.
News of the 2014 competition comes after the 2013 campaign saw some notable performances. Kings sports director Evan Ellbogen spoke about the winners.
“The season is beginning this week with learn-to-skate,” Ellbogen said. “Last season, the 14 and Under finals saw the Hudson Hawks become league champs, defeating KPMG for the Junior Cherry Cup. The Hawks played to their strengths of great puck movement and strong offensive pressure.
“The No. 1 seed, Ernst and Young Eagles, were upset, 10-5, in the 10 and under finals. The heavily favored Eagles couldn’t get the job done as Team 1 played an outstanding game to win the division. Team 1 defeated Team 2 in the 8 and under finals. Team 1 struggled all season but found their stride, winning back-to-back games to take the top prize.”
Ethan Finlason was the Most Valuable Player for the 14U league after scoring a division-best 35 goals. Brad Lansdell was named the Most Improved Player. In the 10U ranks, Sadie Finch was MVP while Jayden Mannisto earned most improved kudos with a group-best 19 assists. Andy Hastings claimed the 8U MVP honors after netting an incredible 83 goals. Kayden Hiryok was named most improved.
Outside of Kings, youngsters will be gearing up for the fourth annual Cayman Hockey Fights Cancer youth street hockey tournament. Put on by the Cayman Islands Youth Roller Hockey Club, the competition takes place outside of Camana Bay’s Arts and Recreation Center.
For Ellbogen, who played roller hockey to a high level in Canada, the street event can be part of a shift in perspective for local kids.
“In Cayman, almost every kid is an athlete doing three or four sports, playing seven or eight times a week. That’s good, but at around 12-13, it’s best to be specific to a sport. For the future, I want that kids have the option to make [roller hockey] their sport. My college scholarship was all about hockey, before 13 I decided to play hockey exclusively. To this day, I don’t play anything but hockey. It’s part of my life, it’s part of who I am.”
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