The GF Peewee Bruins finished first in the round robin after posting decisive victories over Kaslo and Trail1 and a squeaker (4-3) against Castlegar1 (CG1). The playoff round started with a decisive win over CG2, setting the stage for a rematch in the finals against CG1. This was the third game of the day for both teams, and only 45 minutes after the last game for our Bruins. The kids were exhausted and we did our best to get them fed (power bars & bananas) in the break and energized between periods (gummy worms, of course). We also made sure that they were well hydrated (water mixed with Gatorade) which was evident in the game as almost every kid had to leave the bench for a washroom break! It was a hard fought battle, with the Bruins prevailing 7-3 and winning the West Kootenay banner. After the game, both teams gathered for a picture to celebrate all of the kids involved. We did this to acknowledge the efforts of the CG1 team which played hard, but with class and good sportsmanship. Credit to CG1 coach Tim Taylor. Steph and I are extremely happy with what the team was able to accomplish this year. The kids played as team. They followed the systems that we had in place, they didn’t complain or make excuses, they trusted their teammates and they played with respect for everyone involved (officials, coaches, opponents and each other). It was a great experience to be a part of. It’s been a great season for the Grand Forks Minor Hockey Association, collecting 2 championship banners. Congrats to both the Peewee and Midget Bruins on their championship winning seasons.