Junior Everblades
U8 Bring the Heat to
Nashville Showdown
By Reba LaRose
The Florida Jr. Everblades U8 team traveled to Tennessee for the
Nashville Country and Western Showdown to compete against some
of the best Mite teams in the country March 1-3, 2019. Through a hardfought
weekend, the Jr. Everblades Minor team was proud to bring home the
first-place trophy for the Skills Competition.
Although this season was the first time that these Jr. Everblades skated
together, and a first-time travel hockey experience for many, the boys and
girls of the U8 team showed great determination and enthusiastic talent
all season long.
In early March, the Major and Minor teams of the Everblades joined
the ranks with 26 other Mites teams at the Nashville Showdown. Both
competed in separate groups against teams from across the United States
for the six-game, weekend-long competition.
The Major team got off to a great start with a 5-3 win against the Meramec
Sharks. They played the Sharks again later that morning but fell just one
goal shy for a 6-5 loss.
The third game that afternoon against the St. Louis Rockets Oilers was hard
fought on the ice, although the Everblades again lost by just one goal for
another 6-5 final score.
They didn’t allow the streak to last long
though as they ended their tournament
with a 10-6 win against the Nashville
Jr. Predators on their home ice March
3. In addition to the six games,
the tournament also held a skills
competition to see which team’s skaters
had the best ability on the ice.
“The tournament held a skill
competition which tested the
players in different areas of the
game to included hardest shot,
fastest skater, breakaway showdown
and a relay race,” said head coach
Mike Grenzy.
“I am proud to say that our Major team took third place among some very
talented teams,” he said.
With a tie game to start off their tournament, the Everblades Minor team
won the first three preliminary games and wound up tied for first place.
“Heading into the semifinal game we felt very confident to only come up
short in that game. We ended up playing for third place on Sunday and
winning that game in a solid effort, ending the weekend with a 4-1-1
record,” said Grenzy.
After their wonderful performance during the main part of the competition,
the Minor team really showed their talent in the skills portion of the
competition.
“It makes me a proud coach to say that the Minors ended up taking first
place in their Skills Showdown,” Grenzy said. “Overall it was a fun and
competitive weekend. All the players, coaches, and parents had huge part
in the success of our team this year.”
Congratulations to the Jr.
Everblades U8 teams, and best of
luck for next season!
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