They only started practicing recently as a team and only had their first game as a team on the weekend.
But that didn’t stop the Richmond Jets Rep U11A3 boys from taking home the gold medal at the Surrey Thanksgiving Tournament.
And, not content with taking first place at the first time of asking, the team did it all in quite dramatic fashion, according to coach Jon Triance, telling how the boys came back from behind three times in the gold medal game.
It all got off to an understandably shaky start, with a 6-1 loss to Ridge Meadows A3.
That was followed, however, with an 8-2 win over Ridge Meadows A4 and then a 4-1 loss to Semiahmoo A4.
In their final round-robin game, a resounding 13-1 win over Chilliwack A3 secured a spot in the semi-finals with a 2-2 record.
This set up a rematch versus Ridge Meadows A3 which, after falling behind 2-1, the Jets came roaring back for a 3-2 win with the winning goal coming with 2:14 left in the game.
This then set-up a rematch against Semiahmoo in the final and, after falling behind 1-0, 3-1 and then 4-3 with 4:58 remaining, the Jets tied it up with just 2:17 to go.
And in overtime, the Richmond boys sealed a memorable weekend with the winning goal just 19 seconds in.
“The coaches and parents are so proud of the team’s hard work and never-quit attitude,” said Triance.
“They improved each game, and it was quite an accomplishment.”
