The Belle Tire Squirt A team competed in an invitation-only tournament with the top AAA Teams from all over North America. Despite their single ‘A’ status, the ’02 Belle Tire North team went 2-0-1 through the round robin, with wins over the Waterloo Wolves (Ontario 5-1), the No. 3 Canadian ranked Oakville Rangers (Ontario 3-3) and the No. 8 ranked U.S. AAA team Providence Capitals (Rhode Island 7-3).
They then took on the No. 2 ranked U.S. AAA team, the Mid Fairfield Blues, in the quarterfinal round and defeated them 3-1. Advancing to the semifinals was a major accomplishment, but they could not get past the No. 1 ranked US AAA team, the Boston South Shore Kings.
It was a very strong statement for Michigan travel hockey to have a non-AAA team advance over the strongest AAA teams from across North America.
The Belle Tire North team was led by defensemen Noah Luck, Jake McCatty, Noah Luck and Griffin White, in front of goalies Cullen DeYoung and Blake Hazelton. The offensive punch was provided by Dominic James, Ryan Beck, Garrett Szydlowski, Jack Estfan, Ryan McClellan, Gunner Aldridge, Cam Sturos and Adam Pietila. This is the second straight year that the Belle Tire North has advanced to the semi-finals of the International Silver Stick tournament with outstanding coaching from HC Roger Luck and assistant coaches Gordie Pietila, Keith Aldridge and Brian DeYoung.
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