The first-ever Watchung Hills Jr. Warriors Hockey team to compete in a tournament with travel hockey teams, our Mites, ages 4-8, played with a determination the travel teams didn’t see coming.
The Shamrock Showdown, held at Protec Ponds Ice Center and hosted by the Protec Ducks, held their annual Shamrock Showdown this past weekend. The Warriors Mites competed against Bayonne, Brick, and two different Ducks to take the title.
In the first game, the Warriors faced off against a tough Bayonne team. Tied 1-1 through the first half it looked to be a nail-biter, but our Warriors played strong and finished with a 5-2 win. Their second game against Brick was decidedly uneven, with the Warriors winning 16-3 and leaving them with a 2-0 record for the tournament overall.
Sunday was a big day for the Warriors with victories against both the Rangers and a Ducks B team. With a 4-0 tournament record, the Warriors were placed firmly into the championship game.
Facing a tough Ducks team, also undefeated in the tournament, the Warriors went in strong, scoring five unanswered goals early in the game. The Ducks came back hard in the 2nd half to score three, closing up the gap to 5-3 Warriors. But our Warriors relied on the skills they played with all season–passing, positioning, and solid teamwork–to finish the game with a 9-5 win over the Ducks, taking home the very first tournament championship the Watchung Hills Jr. Warriors have ever won.
Watchung Hills Jr. Warriors Hockey Club 