Lesleigh Campbell - Special to the Fitzhugh
Once a year the PeeWees get to invite teams from all over Alberta and B.C. to play in a competitive, yet fun tournament.
This year, seven teams made the trip to Jasper, making for an exciting weekend for all.
And hockey wasn't the only thing to be excited about, with a raffle table full of awesome prizes and Glenda's delicious food to be enjoyed.
There was a positive buzz floating around the arena all weekend.
The Bears kicked off this tournament on Friday with a game against the Prince George Ice Breakers.
Jackson Irwin opened up the scoring in the first three minutes.
Not long after that, Carson Miller (called up from Atom) got the Bears' goal number 2, Carson Campbell with the helper.
Finishing off the first period, Drew Kovacs got another one past the Prince George goalie, assisted by Dustin Derksen (also called up from Atom).
Breaking the ice in the second period, Prince George came back and scored two goals.
But Callum Campbell wrapped up the game with two goals of his own, ending this game in a 5 to 2 win for Jasper.
Jackson Irwin got the assist on the last goal and was also named 'Player of the Game'.
Very early Saturday morning, the Jasper Bears faced off against the Dawson Creek Canucks.
Putting the first puck past a Canuck was Austin Schmidt, assisted by Bode Hofhuis.
Drew Kovacs followed that up with goal number two for Jasper.
But the Canucks answered back, making it 2 to 1.
Callum Campbell added to the Bears' lead, finishing up the period 3 to 1, helped out by Jackson Irwin and Dustin Derksen.
The Canucks got another goal in the second, keeping it 3 to 2 until the final period of the game.
But the Bears had three more goals in them.
Jackson Irwin sniped one past the Canucks' tendy, assisted by Drew Kovacs and Callum Campbell.
And then Dustin Derksen buried the next one, followed by Carson Campbell, assisted by Seth Johannesson to finish this game 6 to 2.
Austin Schmidt was named 'Player of the Game' and Seth Johannesson was ‘The Real Deal’.
Saturday afternoon, the Bears hit the ice once again, this time against the Sherwood Park Sharp Shooters.
This game was a blowout.
But even in such games as this, there are milestones and special moments to be had.
They say there's a first for everything, and I believe it.
Seth Johannesson has spent most of his hockey career as a goalie.
This season, he decided he would like to see what it's like to play as a defenseman instead.
He has done an amazing job all season, but in this game in particular, he got a first that he'd been waiting for.
In the second period, goalie turned player, Seth Johannesson got his first goal as a PeeWee, with the assist going to Drew Kovacs.
First year PeeWee Carson Campbell also got a first in this game, getting his first hat-trick all season.
And Carson's twin brother, netminder Brady Campbell got his first shutout of the season.
The other four goals in this game were scored by Jackson Irwin, Callum Campbell, Dustin Derksen, and Bode Hofhuis.
With Carson Miller, Austin Schmidt and Brennan Anderson getting the helpers, ending this game in an 8 to 0 win for the Bears.
Bode Hofhuis was awarded 'Player of the Game' and Tyler Pearson was 'The Real Deal'.
After winning their three previous games, the Bears landed in the 'A Final' on Sunday.
They were up against the Strathcona Warriors, who had also gone undefeated in the round-robin.
This game proved to be a challenge for the Bears early on.
Down by two goals in the first period, Carson Campbell sent a perfect pass to Drew Kovacs who shot the puck directly into the back of Strathcona's net.
But their celebration was short lived and quickly turned to disappointment when the referee discovered that the net was off and therefore disallowed the goal.
Finding it difficult to come back after that, the Bears fell 6 to 0 to the Warriors.
Drew Kovacs was named 'Player of the Game' and Carson Campbell 'The Real Deal'.
Thank you so much to team managers Wendy Hall and Ambur Doyle for putting this all together. As well as thank you to coaches Royd Irwin, Dave Hofhuis, Rory Murphy, Jim Campbell and Alex Derksen.
Of course this tournament would not be possible without the tremendous support from players' parents, extended family members, businesses and many other members of our wonderful community. So thank you for supporting your Jasper PeeWee Bears.
