James Bay Beavers
The James Bay Beavers Pee-Wee CC participated in two tournaments in Quebec City during the month of February. At the 53rd Edition of the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, the Beavers struggled in early round games, as they were defeated 3-1 by the Montmorency Armada in their first match and later eliminated from the tournament, falling to the Bellechasse Senators by a score of 4-1.
However, the Beavers have enjoyed more success at the 37th edition of the International Pee-Wee B.S.R. tournament, which also took place in the Quebec City region, in nearby Levis. As of press time, the Beavers remained undefeated the tournament in a trio of games against European clubs. In their opening match, the Beavers defeated les Chaux de Fonds, a Swiss team, 3-2 on a late third period goal by Linden Namagoose. The Beavers then followed up that win with a nail biting 5-4 overtime win over a team from Dijon, France. In their next match of the tourney, the Beavers manhandled a team from Rouen, France, winning by a score 5-2, moving the beavers to the final rounds of the tourney.
Cree Nation Bears
The Cree Nation Bear Midget AA squad closed out their regular season with a pair of losses on the road to the Val d’Or Apollos and Amos Comets. However, despite finishing at the bottom of the league standings after a challenging 2011/2012 season, the Bears will open their playoff series against the Rouyn-Noranda Citadelles on home ice in Mistissini. Games 1 and 2 of the best-of-five series will take place Saturday February 18th and Sunday February 19th, after which the series will move to Rouyn-Noranda for game 3 on Friday February 24th, and Games 4 and 5 (if necessary) on Saturday February 25th and 26th.
Tournaments
Registration is now open for teams wishing to participate in the 29th Annual Chisasibi Senior Hockey & Broomball Tournament, scheduled for March 8-11, 2012. Deadline to register is March 2. For more details, call 819-855-2878, ext. 311, 314, 315 or 416. Or send email to chisasibi_recreation@hotmail.com.
Amos Forestiers
The Midget AAA Amos Forestiers ended the regular season on the road, defeating Laval-Montreal 6-2 before falling to division rivals College Esther-Blondin by a score of 4-2. Waskaganish’s Alexander Hester finished the regular season with 10 goals and 14 assists in 41 games. Hester also led the Forestiers to victory in the first game of their playoff series against Jonquiere. Hester’s two assists were key to the Forestier’s 3-2 win in game 1 of the best-of-five series. Game 2 takes place in Jonquiere on February 15 before the series moves to Amos for games 3, 4 and 5 (if necessary) on the weekend of February 18-20.
Player Movement
It was confirmed this week that Waskaganish’s Brett Hester, who suited up for the QMJHL Val d’Or Foreurs during the 2010-2011 season, will join Waswanipi’s Alex Cooper and Mistissini’s Jonah Coonishish-Coon on the OCN Blizzard of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. According to Charles Hester, Brett’s father, Brett Hester will likely join the Blizzard for the club’s final four regular season games and the playoffs. The Blizzard are on pace to finish second in the MJHL’s Sher-Wood Division, having amassed a record of 30-20-7 with 67 points, as of press time.
