The New Westminster atom A hockey team saved the best for last at the Tier 3 final four league playoff championship in West Vancouver last weekend.
Playing in a round-robin tournament against teams from Seafair, Richmond and the North Shore Winter Club, the local club overcame an opening 6-5 loss to Richmond to win their final two games over Seafair and North Shore behind back-to-back shutouts by goaltender Mathew Forero.
The wins enabled the Royals to take the title based on best overall record and goal differential.
In the first game, the Royals fell behind Richmond 5-1 early in the game before almost coming all the way back to tie up the contest.
Goals were scored by team captain Dante Ballarin, Noah Armitage, Carson Bujnowicz and Alec Lakusta. Trevor Schweitzer and Alex Lazecki drew assists on the goals. Keegan Melenychuk was the Royals' goaltender and made several nice saves during the game.
The Royals played arguably their best game of the season in thumping the powerhouse Seafair Islanders 4-0. New Westminster stormed to an early lead on tallies by Ryan Rizzo and Ben Stewart. Lazecki scored a beauty on a deflection from a Sean Bocirnea shot, and insurance was added by Bujnowicz later in the second period. Other assists went to Ballarin, Rizzo, and Lakusta, with a pair of helpers.
Needing a win to remain in contention, New West stormed the North Shore Winter Club 6-0 in a dominating performance last Friday evening. Outshooting their opponents by a wide margin, the only thing keeping the game close was the acrobatic play of the North Shore goaltender. After scoring early on a Bujnowicz marker, things were quiet until near the end of the first period, when the Royals began to find the back of the net with regularity.
Armitage, Ballarin, Ashlen Rutherford, Brennan Ryan, and Kiernan Isbister, with his first of the season, all scored for New West. Helpers went to Lazecki, Trevor Schweitzer, Ryan, Rutherford, Ballarin and Bujnowicz. Strong defence was also provided by Jacob Hamm, Noel Wong and Gavin Fan.
In the final two games, the Royals outshot their opponents 74-23 and outscored them 10-0.
The team is coached by Sean Lakusta, Perry Armitage and Brad Melenychuk.
