Squirt White Champions Newport Christmas Tournament

Newport Rhode Island...
December 30 2011...
The short answer; disciplined positional team hockey with solid goaltending. The question; how did the White team play in the 18th Annual Newport Rhode Island Christmas Tournament? Shortly before the trip to Rhode Island Ramapo Head Coach Mike Sparago told his team, "We win as a team and lose as a team. When one player scores we all score. When one player makes a mistake we all make a mistake". The last block was set in place for a foundation under construction since April of 2011. Newport was always circled on the calendar as a test for the first half of the 2011-2012 season for the White team. Each year most youth hockey teams work at combining the basics, defense, offense and transition in the neutral zone. They also have to find ways to bond and gel over the shortest time frame possible. At first we tend to gauge the success of this progression solely on the results of the games played to date. But so often when you look back at the outcome of these contests, the score is not what defines the games results. More likely you recall a single play or a moment with which you now identify that game. Like all teams this one has had its occasions or turning points beyond the score board or standings. Looking back to define the three days in Newport it is not the scores that come to mind. It is the team first, team work, hustle, trust and discipline that the tournament should be remembered for. Not just defense but the penalty kills and the defense joining the offensive play. The goals from the power play units after each player in the zone touched the puck. A penalty shot buried just as it’s done in practice. A huge I can’t “believe” that save. The back checking by the forwards combined with the relentless fore-checking. The number of face off wins at center. The passing. And last but not least the hustle required for the above to be accomplished with three of the games played on an Olympic size rink. Congratulations to The White team and its coaching staff for representing themselves on and off the ice so well during the tournament.