If togetherness breeds success, the Prince George Blackhawks tyke team is already well ahead of the game.
Some of them have been playing together since they were three-year-olds.
Last weekend in Langley, the team of six- and seven-year-olds proved they've got what it takes to rule the province when they brought home gold medals and the tyke major division trophy from the Mainland Cup tournament.
Goalie Brady MacKay played all the games for the Blackhawks and was at his best in Sunday's championship final, turning in an MVP performance as the 'Hawks defeated the Vancouver Selects 9-4.
"We knew we had a good team but we didn't think we'd win the Mainland Cup against all those big population centres in Vancouver.," said Blackhawks head coach Gerry Brideau.
"Those kids in Vancouver were great players but I guess we really came strong and all the kids played well and they never gave up. I'm really proud of our kids. It proves this city has great hockey players here."
The Blackhawks went undefeated in four round-robin games but their perfect record did not come easily. In their first game they trailed the B.C. Lightning 3-0 after the first period and rallied to a 6-5 win. On the way to the final the Blackhawks also defeated the Abbotsford Islanders 14-1, edged Vancouver 5-4, and toppled the Westcoast Whalers 14-3.
The Blackhawks' roster includes defencemen Sean Minhas, Matthew Hart, Miguel Marques and Jesse Brideau. At forward are Marek Brideau, Mattias Pollard, Smyth Rebman, Adam Leslie, Ethan Rishaug, and Cameron Schmidt. Forward Nolan Cousins did not make the trip.
Coach Brideau said the roots of the team can be traced back four years when a handful of his players started practicing their spring hockey skills as a group.
"At least five of them started at three years old," said Brideau.
During winter hockey season, the Blackhawks practice their on-ice skills for spring hockey two additional times per week and receive power skating instruction from Brian Toll. They practice throughout the year with the exception of June, when they take a month off hockey. Brideau encourages his players to take up other sports, like lacrosse, skiing, soccer, and swimming.
"To be a hockey player now you have to train more than two times a week and you have to be focused on it," added Brideau. "You have to give at least four to six weeks for the children to rest where they don't play hockey or they will tell mom and dad, 'I'm done with hockey.'
"Hopefully the kids here can follow in the footsteps of [Tampa Bay Lightning forward] Brett Connolly and [Philadelphia Flyers defenceman] Brandon Manning [both of whom grew up in Prince George]."
Originally from New Brunswick, Brideau coached at the international triple-A level in Vancouver. One of his minor hockey players for four seasons was Luc Bourdon, the late Vancouver Canucks defenceman who died in a motorcycle accident in May 2008. Bourdon grew up in Shippigan, N.B., close to Brideau's hometown of Tracadie-Sheila.
The Blackhawks will be in Calgary for their next tournament, May 24-28. They plan to pick up one player in Red Deer, Brett Leslie, the nephew of assistant coach Jason Leslie. Rick Hart, Mike Rishaug, and Travers Rebman also coach the Blackhawks.
The' 'Hawks plan to compete next year in the national triple-A tournament in Winnipeg.
