Central Plains youth hockey teams made a major statement over the weekend at the Brandon Source for Sports AAA Hockey Challenge, with both the Chiefs and the Capitals returning home with hardware and high praise from their coaches.
The Central Plains Chiefs 2016 squad, led by co-head coach Ryan Ozunko, claimed the championship title in the 2016 Gold Division, finishing the weekend with an impressive 4-1 record.
"The boys came out very good, winning the championship game on Sunday against the Brandon Stealth Wolves."
Ozunko remarked that the team has been working hard, and they only get a few weeks between the regular season and the start of Spring to come together.
"Every week we're getting better, and every tournament we play, we're seeing that progress. Hopefully, we can keep building on this heading into the next tournament."
This marks the Chiefs’ second consecutive championship at the AAA Hockey Challenge, winning the 2016 Silver division last year, a milestone Ozunko says reflects the dedication of everyone involved.
"It's unbelievable. It's great for the kids, great for Central Plains, the parents, and the coaches. We won the silver division last year, so we figured if we want to be the best, we have to play the best. That's why we chose to compete in the Gold Division this year."
Ozunko also credited the strong coaching staff they have on the bench for the team's success.
“We've got unbelievable people on our coaching team," he said, naming Donny Smoke, Jeff Dayton, Anthony Conte, and Riley Klassen.
"They interact with the kids really well, and their knowledge of the game is just incredible."
Meanwhile, the Central Plains Capitals 2017 squad, coached by Jon San Miguel, also made a big impact in their first-ever appearance at the tournament, bringing home a silver medal.
"It was a very successful weekend," said San Miguel. "We won all our round robin games, dominated the semifinal 10–1, and fell just short in the final, losing 6–4 to the Brandon Synergy Wolves."
Despite the loss, San Miguel was proud of the young team's performance.
"The season is short for this age group, so seeing the kids come together so quickly, work hard, and compete like that was really something special," he said. "I couldn't have done this without the commitment from our parents, coaches, and our manager Dustin Pierce."
With both teams showcasing their talent and team spirit, the future looks bright for Central Plains hockey.
To watch both games see the links below.
