The culmination of last season for the club only happened recently as our juniors took to the rink at the 2016/17 Junior Nationals in Rotherham on the 23rd of September.
We had 33 players competing over four age categories. One team at both under 9 and under 12 and two teams at both under 15 and under 18.
The morning was time for the younger age groups to take the spotlight with the U9s and U12s competition. Our U12 team, which contained several of our U9s had a win, a draw and two losses in the five team tournament and took third place. This was a great achievement for what was an inexperienced and quite young team.
The under 9’s had a great morning. Winning three and drawing one, their game against the Sheffield Steelers, where they took a 3-0 lead only to be pegged back to 3-3 was one of the most thrilling of the day. Needing a win in their final game against Ealing to secure the win, the youngest Huskies, led by Ryan Kamm, finished the job and were crowned National Champions.
The afternoon was the turn of the older players, the under 15s and under 18s. In both categories we fielded an A and B team. The B teams mainly featuring players playing up from the younger age group. Both B teams battled tremendously well in both categories and were unlucky not to grab a win.
Both A teams went undefeated during the afternoon. The U15s had to come from 3-1 down to beat old adversaries Ealing Eagles, but this was as close as it got for them as they topped the round robin league with four straight wins. Captain Hadden Bolstridge was on hand at the end of the day to scoop the National Championship shield.
The U18 A team went undefeated throughout the four team round robin phase which set-up a one off final once again against the Ealing Eagles. A tense final saw the Huskies have the bulk of the play, but it took until the last five minutes of the game for captain Ben Royle to put the winner home. Ben gratefully scooped the the National Championship shield to cap off a great day for the club. The vast majority of this team will remain under 18 next season which bodes well for the club.
Three trophies out of four available was a temendous outcome for the club and it was a briliant day of hockey that showcased all that is good in the BHUK junior ranks.
