The SL Stars M1 Elite team rounded out an intense weekend of hockey, playing 5 games in 4 days. Coming into this weekend as the top team in the VHL they faced a chippy Danvers team on Saturday. They withstood their early pressure and went on to beat them soundly bringing their division record to an impressive 17-0-0 in their division.
The team also decided to try their hand in the Boston Bruins Holiday Tournament and entered as a high seed. Friday’s game vs. the Wilmington Bobcats would give them a test early. After shaking off their holiday party legs, they got their game going and would go on to to take the win. Having already played a physical game earlier in the day Saturday, the SL Stars faced off against a tough Masco Chieftains team. This one was physical throughout the contest but the team was not intimidated. Their relentless attack was too much for Masco to withstand and the Stars would take the decisive win. After feasting on a team dinner Saturday night, the skaters got a good night’s sleep and returned Sunday to face off against the Peabody Stampede. The Stars played their usual skilled game and were too much for Peabody to handle. The win put them at 3-0 in the tourney, earning a spot in the championship, again vs. Masco. This one lived up to the hype and would require a 100% effort from a drained Stars team. Going down 2-0 early they regrouped and dug deep for some extra energy. The Masco goaltender stood on his head the entire game but in the end, the Stars skill, determination and overall teamwork proved to be too much. They earned the the well deserved championship trophy. This team continues to be on fire and will need all of their tools going forward as they start to face off against the meat of their schedule. This tournament is just a sample of how good this team can be. They continue to bond, practice hard and improve their game. They know that nothing will be handed to them and only 100% effort will take them where they want to go. Keep an eye on this team for the rest of the season. It’s about to get even more interesting!
