By RYAN COOKE
The Exploits Valley High Eagles locked up
their second consecutive Don Cherry’s 4A championship this past weekend,
furthering their dominance over high school hockey in the province.
The Eagles went into the tournament 21-1
overall on the year, having won all 10 regular season games, plus the annual
Donnini’s tournament and an impressive sweep of the CANLAN Ice Sports
tournament in York, Ontario.
The road to the 4A finals was not an easy
one however, as EVH went up against several of the biggest schools in the
province, including Gonzaga High, Corner Brook Regional High and Ascension
Collegiate.
They would eventually face O’Donel High of
Mount Pearl in the championship game, and found themselves down 5-3 midway
through the second period. However, a late goal in the second would help mount
a comeback that would be completed in the third, when Shawn Loveridge scored
the winner with three minutes remaining.
Team manager Roger Budgell points to the
team’s speed and power play prowess as reasons for their success all season
long, as well as their familiarity with one another.
“We rely on speed and the systems the
coaches have put in place to be effective. Most of these boys have been
together since they were seven-years-old, so they know each other pretty well.”
Budgell says that even more impressive than
the team’s record this year has been the way they conduct themselves on and off
the ice. He points to several games against weaker opponents this year where
the team chose not to run up the score, or celebrate after goals late in games.
“It’s a credit to the coaches for the
discipline. We teach our boys to win and lose with class,” Budgell said.
However, losing isn’t something they’ve
done much of this season.
Heading into game three of the Central High
School Hockey League semi-finals, the Eagles have lost just two games this
year.
The first loss came in game one of the
on-going semi-final series against Lewisporte, and the second against Gonzaga
this past weekend. Gonzaga, a perennial powerhouse, went into the game against
EVH with a 26-2 record on the year, but only narrowly beat the Eagles.
Being the first team outside the Avalon
Peninsula to win back-to-back 4A titles, Budgell says he believes high school
hockey in the central region is at a level it hasn’t seen in a long time. He
credits minor hockey’s involvement for the high calibre of play.
“The talent is getting better and better,
as is hockey in general. Minor hockey has improved remarkably with coaching
seminars and more ice time.”
With the season winding down, Budgell looks
back proudly on a year that has seen his team dominate both on and off the
island.
“The boys have had a fantastic year
playing, winning and having fun.
“They truly are excellent ambassadors for
EVH and for Grand Falls-Windsor.”
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