Jan 19, 2025 | Kate Wilenski | 335 views
Crusaders shine at Pelham International Silverstick
The U11 LL Durham Crusaders stormed into Niagara Falls for the 2025 Silverstick International tournament with high hopes of making it deep into the weekend and they did!
Launching the tournament festivities with a 4-0 win Thursday vs. the Aylmer Flames, the Crusaders enjoyed trading pins with hundreds of other hopefuls and cheered their coach and captain on during the opening ceremonies.
The team finished their round robin play strong against the competition with a record of 3-1 against rivals St. Mary’s Rock, Frederick Victory Stars, and the Drayton Defenders. This was their first taste of international play with teams heading north of the border from the United States.
Saturday evening’s semi-final match up would find the Durham Crusaders facing off against the Petoskey Northmen of Michigan, their toughest competition yet. With stand out performances on both sides of the puck, the Crusaders’ resiliency and depth were on full display. Pushing the game into double overtime, the U11 squad was ultimately defeated on a penalty shot. Petoskey Northmen would go on to win the championship Sunday morning handedly.
While DC players were visibly upset after losing such a hard fought battle, their dedication and hard work did not go unnoticed by the bench staff. The U11LL Durham Crusaders made every leader, parent, and teammate proud last weekend. They are now focused on finishing their season strong and charging into the playoffs!
- Coach Rich