Squirt A team take state championship
For the Metro Wire
Stevens Point Area Squirt “A” Hockey team captured the state championship in Fond Du Lac last weekend, going 3-0 and beating Superior in the championship game 7-3.
The 10- and 11-year-old players finished their regular season with the overall record of 36-1.
To make the championship game, it took 3 overtimes for the Ice Hawks to get passed the home team, Fond Du Lac Thunder, with the final score of 3-2.
“I am so very proud of this group of young players and very impressed with their level of maturity,” said coach Mikhail Salienko. “It’s a long season for everyone involved; coaches, parents, players and everyone’s commitment and dedication was always at the right level.”
Squirt A Ice Hawks played their regular season games at the Division I level of the tier 2 youth hockey. They averaged scoring 6 goals a game with just 2 goals against.
In addition to the state championship trophy, the Ice Hawks have also earned first places at two other tournaments; the Michael Hughes Memorial Tournament in Eau Claire, and Avalanche Classic in Monroe.
Salienko said the skaters work up to three hours at a time developing skills on the ice and dry land developing.
“We are truly privileged to have many good young athletes in our area,” he said. “These kids play a lot of hockey, but they also engage in other team sports during spring, summer and fall seasons.”
Stevens Point Area Youth Hockey is a not-for-profit association that offers opportunity to young hockey players between ages of 8-14 to compete on a state level among their peers, relying on many volunteers and sponsors to maintain its operation throughout the year.
SPAYA teams play out of the Ice Hawks Arena, located at 801 Badger Ave in Stevens Point.