They did what no Colorado team has ever done.
And what they did had been done only four times by American teams located west of the Central time zone.
When Matt McNichols scored on an assist from Dawson Pascale with only minutes left in overtime Jan. 11 against the Mississauga (Ontario) Braves, the Hyland Hills Jaguars capped a spectacular run at the Silver Stick hockey tournament in Port Huron, Mich.
The goal by McNichols — as well as stout goaltending by Ryan Fay — gave the Jaguars a 1-0 victory and the Bantam Double-A championship at a tournament sometimes called the “Stanley Cup of youth hockey.”
The triumph also gave the Jaguars recognition in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
And, if that weren’t enough, the Jaguars have been selected as the first winner of The Denver Post Youth Excellence in Sports contest.
YES!
“I’ve watched a few teams,” tournament director Patrick H. Hills said, “and I was extremely impressed with that team.”
Hills probably knows something about youth hockey — he’s been involved with the tournament for 20 years.
“Only the best of the best come to Port Huron,” he said.
And the Silver Stick tournament, which has been held in Port Huron since 1963, has hosted many notable players through the years.
Adam Foote, Dino Ciccarelli, Derian Hatcher, Brian Rolston and Tony McKegney are just a few who have laced ’em up at the prestigious tournament.
Who knows, perhaps one day the likes of Fay, Mitch Coan, Sammy Bernard-Boymel and Keegan McCarthy — all of whom were selected to the tournament’s all-star team — might be mentioned in the same breath as the names of their Silver Stick predecessors.
The only other Colorado team to advance to a championship game at the tournament was the Colorado Thunderbirds, which lost to the Toronto Marlboros in the 2007 Pee Wee Triple-A final.
Honorable mention
Tony Silva, a 12-year-old seventh-grader at Henry World School, went 17-3 in January while wrestling for the Denver All Stars in the 90-pound division.
Know a top athlete? Youth Excellence in Sports honors those 17 or younger who have excelled in any athletic endeavor that is unaffiliated with the Colorado High School Activities Association. To submit your candidate for February’s top individual or team, visit for an online form or fax a brief description of the achievement and your contact info to 303-866-9004 (Attention: “Youth Excellence”).
