The U13 and U15 House Winterhawks both clinched third place in their respective playoff campaigns over the March 9 weekend. The U13 team faced a challenging opener against the Terrace Kermodes, succumbing to a 7-4 defeat despite early promise shown by Domenic Oliveira’s goal, assisted by Decker Skinner and Lauryn Meeds. A determined effort in the third period saw additional goals from Luca Colombo, assisted by Ezekiel Bayne, and Arhianna McCormick, with Landon Readman and Luke Plante also contributing, but it wasn’t enough to overturn the deficit.
The U13 squad’s resilience was evident in their subsequent 2-1 victory over the Hazelton Capitals. Felix Regimbald and Luca Colombo found the net, the latter securing the win with a decisive breakaway goal in the final moments. Their weekend concluded with a narrow 5-4 loss to the Smithers Storm, despite a strong performance from Sarvyog Kumar and a hat-trick by Luca Colombo, earning them a well-deserved third-place finish.
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Meanwhile, the U15 Winterhawks faced tough opposition in the U15 Recreational Playoffs in Prince Rupert. Their journey began with a 3-1 defeat against the Smithers Storm, despite Karson Waller’s early goal. A subsequent 4-3 loss to the Terrace Kermodes saw goals from Noah Goffinet-Forward, Jacob Santano, and Brad Franklin, highlighting the team’s offensive efforts.
Their perseverance was rewarded in the third-place match against Smithers, where a late goal by Zak Baldridge and a breakaway goal by Noah Goffinet-Forward secured a 2-0 victory, demonstrating the team’s defensive strength and strategic play under pressure.
Both U13 and U15 Winterhawks teams showed commendable skill and teamwork throughout their playoff appearances, culminating in third-place finishes that reflect their hard work and dedication. As they look forward to future competitions, the Winterhawks carry with them the experience and growth gained from this playoff season.