When the Langley Midget A1 Eagles crossed the border back into Canada, they had something to declare: a gold medal.
The local hockey team was competing at the President’s Day hockey tournament in Phoenix, Arizona over the weekend, going a perfect 5-0 against their American competition.
The victory is validation for the squad who have steadily improved all season.
“The players have worked their butts off,” said coach Scott Sparkman.
“The team has been underestimated all season.”
Langley allowed just eight goals in their five games while scoring 27.
In the championship final on Monday, the Eagles defeated the Parkland Athletic Club Saints by a 5-1 score with goaltender Kristian Lyon making 39 saves.
The teams were tied at one after 20 minutes but Casey Whintors put Langley ahead for good in the second period.
Sloan Kelly, Kieran MacCarron and Whintors added third period goals.
Whintors, who set up Brendan O’Grady for the opening goal, finished with three points.
They had defeated the Anaheim Junior Ducks by that same 5-1 score in the semifinals.
And in pool play, Langley beat the Portland Junior Winterhawks 6-3, won 7-0 over Southern California’s AHU White Knights, and edged the Junior Ducks 4-3.
The team is made up of Ben Hamel, Ben Wasmuth, Braden Warbuton, Bradley Ewing, Brendan O’Grady, Callum MacDonald, Casey Whintors, Chris Sarrazin, Davin Saggir, Dominic Bosa, Dustin Withrow, Ethan Koskelainen, Kieran MacCarron, Kristian Lyon, Leland Konrath, Sloan Kelly, Stephen Sielsky and Tyson Tilley.
