PEEWEE MINOR, 2018-2019, Trav (Essex Minor Hockey)

    The Essex Ravens PeeWee Minor team competed in the International Silver Stick tournament, January 10th to the 13th, in Newmarket, Ontario. The slate of teams participating was formidable, having finished with  gold or silver medals in one of the many Silver Stick qualifying tournaments held earlier this season.

Fraser Hockey Land in Fraser, Michigan is touted as the second largest hockey facility in North America. Their five rinks played host to the One World Hockey Invite Tournament over the final weekend of 2018.     The Essex Raven PeeWee Minors opening game matched them against the Northstars from Flagstaff, Arizona. Though the game began with chances for both teams, eventually the Ravens took control by the second period and the game ended in a 5 to 1 victory for Essex.

    The Silver Stick Regional Qualifier in Owen Sound, from November 2nd to the 4th, was the recent tournament destination for the Essex Raven PeeWee MInors. The team took to the ice against the Innisfil Winterhawks Friday morning. The Ravens pressured their opponents and controlled much of the play tallying all three goals in the lopsided 3 - 0 win in the opening game.

Only one week after winning the Essex Early Bird tournament, the Essex PeeWee Minors took their game South West to the town of South Bend, Indiana, at the University of Notre Dame, September 21st to 23rd, to compete in the Irish South Bend Cup. The only Canadian team out of the four division competitors, the boys had to adapt quickly to the subtle rule changes and physical play of their American counterparts.

    After a handful of exhibition games, the Essex Ravens PeeWee Minor team jumped full steam into the start of their hockey season with the opening round of the 41st annual Essex Early Bird Tournament. The Ravens faced off against local rival Tecumseh Eagles to start the tourney. The Eagles showed how fierce of competitors they could be, winning 3 - 2 in a hard fought contest. The boys from Essex trailed throughout the game, but never gave up.