Boasting elite talent from the Yorkton Terriers, Melville Millionaires and Melville Blues the Parkland Valley boy's hockey team could have easily been pegged as tournament favourites heading into the 2014 Saskatchewan Winter Games based on the quality of the Bantam teams in the Parkland area this season. With high expectations the Sask Valley team did what they set out to do when they left for Prince Albert by going undefeated on their way to a Gold medal.
Parkland Valley head coach Jason Gordon said post tournament that he felt that the group of the best first year bantam players in the area had a focus for gold and did the job even if the provincial competition offered a tough challenge.
"Our guys came in with a focus to come for gold," said Gordon who added that the team played like winners for the entire tournament. "We knew it would be tough all the way through with a short-term tournament, but we've got a lot of guys who are winners and they play like winners all of the time."
The team which was assembled after a process that began with an open tryout in Kamsack in part of the Sask First development program which included all 2000 born first year bantam players for the 2014 Sask Winter Games teams across the province. From there the Sask Valley team had 29 players and five goaltenders try out for the team in December before the final roster was assembled with a final roster count of 20 players.
Not being allowed to practice before the tournament, Gordon mentioned that the makeup of his team was forced to adapt with lines of players who mostly played on regular season teams, but said that the lack of practice didn't slow them down in the round robin despite needing a good effort to beat the hosts Lakeland Valley 3-2 in the opening round.
"The team came together quickly with many players playing on the same teams in the regular season and we faced some competitive teams but outscored the opposition 41-9 in the round robin so you can say that things gelled nicely for us in the end."
That undefeated record continued into a spot in the Gold medal game where the Parkland Valley players did not disappoint, completing their goal of finishing their Winter Games experience with a Gold medal.
Playing Team Southeast in the final, Parkland Valley would show that they were a cut above the competition with a convincing 8-4 victory to wrap up the tournament with a well deserved championship finish to their name.
Despite their undefeated record and lopsided goal differential, Gordon gave credit to a tournament pool that was in his opinion very competitive. "It's so good to be part of this. There are nine teams in it, there are 180 athletes, and it's such a great experience for the kids. P.A.'s done a marvelous job, here," said Gordon when aksed about the overall Games experience.
When asked about what was the key to their success and dominance during the tournament Gordon pointed out to the team's focus on their gameplan and capitalizing on the most of their opportunities when they presented themselves. "Our strengths were just working on the little things," Gordon said. "We did everything that we had to do along the outside of the dots, and when it was time to come inside the dots to score goals we attacked the net."
Parkland Valley captain Carson Miller told the Prince Albert Daily Herald that it was a special experience being able to compete against every region of the province in a tournament that featured many friends he has made across Saskatchewan through hockey before and during the tournament. "Just amazing - everything, here," he said. "It's a lot of fun. It's not just competition, it's playing against friends from all around Saskatchewan - other great players."
Gordon also credited the kids for being an outstanding team that bonded together and also supported the rest of the Parkland Valley team at various events while they could. Even making a trip to watch the Parkland Valley's outstanding Special Olympics bowling team to show their support.
"The kids all went down cheering on our Special Olympic bowling athletes and take in a little bit of the city in, there, and cheer on other events which in the end is what this event is all about," says Gordon.
Gordon also mentioned that the win was special for the team because it allowed them to not just represent their hometown, but the entire Parkland region and that in the Gold medal game many of the other athletes came out to support the team and cheer them on to gold.
"We had amazing support from all of the parents, volunteers, mission staff and fellow athletes from the Parkland Valley team," said Gordon. "The respect the whole Parkland Valley team of athletes showed was infectious and it felt like a real group effort as many other teams would come down to support and cheer when they could which was special for not just our team but for all of the athletes who competed."
In the end the Parkland Valley team came away with 13th medals which was good for 8th in the overall standings at the 2014 Saskatchewan Winter Games. Team Regina won the Game's Flag for leading the overall medal count while Team Prairie Central won the Joe Griffiths Award for Most Improved Region.
