None of the current members of the Burnaby minor Bulldogs’ bantam A1 hockey team were around when a 15-year-old Joe Sakic lead the home team to a second-straight title at the then-named Burnaby Bantam Christmas Tournament 32 years ago.
But they now share something else in common with Burnaby Joe.
The Burnaby Bulldogs put in a championship run, capped by a decisive 8-1 victory over Seattle on Friday in Burnaby Minor Hockey Association’s since-renamed Pat Quinn Classic in the bantam AAA division.
While they know of the local Hockey Hall of Fame member and the association’s lengthy lapse between wins, the most important motivation was in showing just what they could do as a team, captain Kaidan Johnson said.
“It was really important,” Johnson said of the tourney title. “It was a real tough time getting through all the teams… There was a lot of pressure and a lot of boys knew they could go somewhere if we did well, show everyone what they can do – me as well.”
Johnson led the way in the final,
counting a hat trick as the hosts scored three times in the first, twice in the second and counted three more in the third. Johnson’s linemate Dan Juca and Sagan Kuramoto tallied two apiece, with Marcus Klarich rounding out the offence.
It was the team’s sixth win over four days, which saw them out-score the opposition 44-8 and register wins over teams from Colorado, San Jose, Nanaimo and the Okanagan Hockey Academy.
The Bulldogs maintained a focused, hungry approach throughout the tournament, and that’s just what coach Jim Camazzola had hoped for.
“Its always good to get the first goal, right? The kids at this age are so nervous, so getting that helped settle them down a bit and make sure what they have to do,” said Camazzola, who grew up in north Burnaby and was a 10th round draft pick of Chicago back in 1982.
“We played (Seattle) at the very beginning of the year but that was three months ago, and a lot of things change in three months for this age. We were expecting a tough game. I thought the first period it was a little bit feeling out each other but we stuck to our game plan and it worked out.”
While they handled Seattle earlier in the season, Burnaby’s main aim was not to take anything for granted and earn it the honest way. By the time Juca buried his own rebound midway through the first, making it 3-0, the Bulldogs had set a strong tone.
“Our goal was to not be intimidated, and try and get as many goals as we can from the start and keep up the pressure throughout the game,” said Johnson, 14.
He finished with 12 goals and 12 assists over the six games, and was chosen the tourney MVP.
Presented the top goaltender award was Burnaby’s Jaden Bains, who shared netminding duties during the series with Noah Dall’Antonia.
Burnaby earned its spot in the final after out-lasting Seafair 4-2 in the semifinal – which the coach noted was the toughest test of the week. They won their previous four games by a margin of four or more goals.
Johnson and his linemates Juca and Klarich combined for 27 goals and 24 assists over six games, proving impossible to stop. Johnson and Juca had played together for a few years, with Klarich a recent fit.
“They have good chemistry with each other,” remarked the coach. “(Johnson and Juca) have played together for many years so that has something to do with it. They’re hungry kids and love putting pucks in the net – they’re very creative.
“I don’t put a leash on them, I let them be creative as long as they take care of their own zone. Most of the time it does, and when it doesn’t they hear from the coach.”
And while achieving something the hosts have only done four previous times since the tourney first began in 1962 – Burnaby minor teams have prevailed in 1969, ’72, ’83 and ’84 – there was the added knowledge that scouts were in abundance at the various local rinks during the four days, giving the players a chance to make an impression.
“It’s really important. I want to play in the NHL someday,” said Johnson. “That’s my dream job… (Winning) means we showed our association that we can play. All the parents, the fans, we showed them that we are here to be the best.”
In the bantam AAA elite division, the Delta Prep Academy improved on last year’s second-place finish by edging fellow B.C. program Yale Prep Academy 4-3 in the final.
Delta rolled undefeated through the tournament, advancing in the playoff round with victories of 3-1 over Rocky Mountain and 3-2 over the Burnaby Winter Club Bruins. Forward Payton Mount was picked as the tourney MVP.
Yale’s route saw them stop Arizona 6-2 and Lethbridge 4-3 to get to the championship game.
Yale forward Ethan Bowen finished atop the scoring list with four goals and 12 assists over six games. Tied for second overall in scoring, but with a division-best eight goals, was Lethbridge’s Kadyn Chabot.
The Bruins would claim third place, nudging Lethbridge 3-2 in the consolation final.
In the peewee AAA elite division, the Alaska North Stars doubled the North Shore Winter Club 4-2 in the final, led by MVP Camron VanSickle. Earning that division’s top defenceman award was BWC’s Eshaan Barha.
