Select, Rock Stars, Tigers ready for nationals T
By Matt Mackinder
he Colorado Select organization will send four teams to the upcoming USA Hockey Girls National Tournaments, including all three AAA-level squads.
The 14U AAA, 16U AAA and 19U AAA teams each received automatic berths to their respective tournaments, which will all be held from March 28-April 1 in Marlborough, Mass. (just outside of Boston). The Select’s 12U AA team did compete at regionals, however, winning the Rocky Mountain District title in its division earlier this month. It will participate in the Tier II national tournament in Dallas, also from March 28-April 1.
nationals-bound teams.
“We’re very proud of these girls,” he said. “Our program is newer to Colorado, but we’re building the program to be a force to be reckoned with for years to come. “Our mission is to help build girls hockey in Colorado, compete at the national level and give girls from all over the state the chance to play with some of the best in the nation.”
The Mountain States Rock Stars’ 16U AA team is one of seven from Colo- rado that will compete at the upcoming Tier I and Tier II USA Hockey Girls National Tournaments in Massachusetts and Texas.
In addition, both the Mountain State Girls Hockey League’s (MSGHL) 16U AA and 14U AA teams - the Rock Stars - won their respective regional championships, as did the Colorado Tigers’ Elite Prep 19U AA squad. All three teams will also head to Texas for nationals later this month.
“Once you get to nationals, there’s obviously a lot more on the line,” said Select’s director of hockey and 19U AAA head coach Marnie Hill. “Each game has a greater significance and emo- tions are obviously elevated.”
According to Hill, the number of participat- ing Select teams at nationals is down from past years, but she expects all four representatives to make an impact at their respective events. “It’s certainly a great honor to compete with
other top teams in the nation,” said Hill. “We’ve been preparing all season for this and it’ll be interesting to see how we respond and turn it up a notch in a different atmosphere.” The Tigers’ Elite Prep 19U coach, Rich Furia, couldn’t be more proud of what his team has ac- complished as it heads to nationals. “The girls’ dedication to the team and to each other is what makes this group special and the one I’d take to the big dance over any other,” said Furia. “I know the bonds created between these girls will last long after their hockey careers are over, and I’ve never been more proud to stand behind the bench of such committed young ath- letes.”
Scott Harris, the MSGHL’s Tier II direc- tor, echoed those sentiments regarding his two
The AAA national tournament showcases a three-game round robin followed by the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals. Hill has guided the 19U AAA team to four straight bronze medals (2008-11), while the 16U AAA team took bronze in 2005 under coach John Seymour and again in 2008 with coach Pierre Turgeon at the helm. No Select team has ever brought home a gold or silver medal but Hill thinks any of the four going to this year’s showcase could be the one to finally break through.
“To win bronze with the 19U AAA team is a goal we’d like to repeat, if not more,” said Hill. “I’d also like the 14U AAA and 16U AAA teams to experience that, too. In our 11 years as an organi- zation, we’ve won six bronze medals and I’d like to expand on that this year.”
She’s also excited about the prospects of her 12U AA squad.
“I think a point needs to be made that that team actually won its district to earn the right to play at nationals,” said Hill. “That’s a talented group of girls with a lot of determination.”
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