San Jose, CA — The Washington Wild 19U Rep team earns the championship title in the 10th annual MLK Women’s/Girls’ Tournament hosted by San Jose Jr. Sharks Hockey club, January 18-21, 2013! The team competed in the 17/19U division against other Nationally-Bound teams such as the Anaheim Lady Ducks (16U AAA), Surrey Falcons (17U AAA), Mountain States (CO) Rockstars (19U AA), Rocky Mountain Lynx (19U AA), and Pasadena Maple Leafs (19U AA).
The Wild arrived in San Jose on Friday (1/18), as their first game against the Pasadena Maple Leafs team was that night at 10:00 pm. The Wild won handily, 6 – 1. On Saturday (1/19), some of the Wild players took in the San Jose Sharks practice at Sharks Ice before their 3:00 pm game against the Mountain State Rockstars. Again the Wild prevailed easily with a final score of 8 – 0. That evening the Wild played their toughest opponent, the 16U AAA Anaheim Lady Ducks. The difference between AAA and AA became apparent even though the Wild were older, as the Lady Ducks won 3 – 1. The following day the Wild beat Pasadena again, 6 – 0, to advance to Monday’s final against the Mountain State Rockstars. The final was closer than the first game, but the Wild won relatively easily at 6 – 1. The Wild outscored their opponents 27-5, including two shutouts on the way to winning the championship banner in the tournament.
The team also enjoyed the sunny, 65-73 degree weather in California — with families taking a side trip to San Francisco to enjoy Alcatraz, the Presidio, Fishermens’ Wharf, Ghiradelli Square, cable car rides, Lombard Street, the Golden Gate Bridge and Chinatown. The majority of the team and coaches also went to Santa Cruz where they enjoyed the board walk, rides, playing in the surf, watching surfers and a surfing competition, while others went to the San Francisco Zoo.
(photos courtsey of Al Lindsay)