Milton PeeWees take state championship

There were some very excited players, demonstrated in the photo above, as the Milton PeeWees celebrated their win over Stowe for the state championships.

What a weekend it was!! Milton began its journey to the final championship game with a 6 to 1 win over Stowe Saturday morning February 9. It was an exciting game against a very tough team. Cody Boyson opened the game with an unassisted goal followed a minute and a half later by another unassisted goal this time by Jackson Hickey. In the second period Logan Belvieau scored a sweet goal off a pass from Chris Johnson. Stowe scored 30 seconds later. Jackson Hickey responded to their goal a minute ten seconds later with the assist to Logan Belvieau. Stowe opened the third period with a quick goal but once again, Jackson Hickey responded with an assist from Cody Boyson. Jackson Hickey earned a hat trick for this game.

Our second game in this double elimination state tournament was against CSB (South Burlington) which has always been extremely tough competition. It was a late Saturday night game (8:45 p.m.). Milton came on strong and victorious with a 5 to 1 win. The first period ended scoreless and the fans were nervous. Seven minutes into the second period Jackson lit the board for Milton with a shorthanded goal. A minute and 20 seconds later Cody Boyson scored with a pass from Ian Pelkey. Shortly after, Jackson Hickey again scored another unassisted goal. Jackson opened the third period with a goal assisted by Cody Boyson and Chris Johnson. Three minutes later South Burlington scored their only goal of the game thanks to the great goal tending and quick reflexes of Brendon Rhodes. Logan Belvieau connected a sweet pass from Cody Boyson to score the final goal of the game.

As the weekend continued, so did the competition. It was time to battle Essex late Sunday morning. Like CSB, games with Essex have always proven to be exciting and a nail biting experience to the end. This game began with Essex scoring two goals in the first three minutes of the game. Parents and fans were beginning to really worry, but the boys stayed strong and never gave up. The game ended in a 7 to 3 win. Keith Mercure was in the right spot to receive a great pass and put the puck in the net. Logan Belvieau, Cody Boyson and Jackson Hickey each scored two goals.

The win against Essex placed Milton automatically in the finals without one loss. Essex had to work their way out of the loser's bracket if they wanted another shot at Milton and the championship. That's just what they did. Essex wanted a rematch bad with the Milton boys. They got their chance Thursday night, Valentine's Day.

Milton came on strong and Jackson Hickey scored early in the first period with an assist from Hunter Goodwin. Essex answered the goal shortly after to end the first period in a 1 to 1 tie. Both goalies were on fire and made totally awesome saves through the second period where the score remained 1 to 1 entering the third period. Brandon even fished some pucks right out of midair. Milton turned up the heat and with 5 minutes or so left in the third, Milton's Cody Boyson scored breaking the tie and breaking Essex's game with an assist from Jackson Hickey. With only a minute and a half left in the game and a call from the mothers to the Milton bench to let the coaches know Essex was pulling their goalie (Coach Goodwin reported they already knew the information), Essex pulled their goalie. Milton tried hard to remain in control of the puck but could not get the puck down the ice to the open net. It was nerve wracking for the parents and fans but the time ticked on and Essex ran out of time…Milton wins championship 2 to 1.

Coach Scott Goodwin told the parents, “I never doubted for a minute the boys couldn't pull it off. They've done it every game.” Coach Boyson remarked how great the defensive line worked with Brian Clark, Ian Pelkey playing one shift and William Jenkins and Ryan Lucia taking the other shift. “They worked together and played their game” stated Coach Clark. “They wanted the championship.”

submitted by Jeff Hess