Local peewees propel TriCom Thunder to best SPUD showing yet

By Mark Squibb  |  The Shoreline  |  Vol. 31 No. 48 (February 13 2019)

The TriCom AAA Pee Wee Thunder hockey team has a reason to celebrate.

The team, consisting of 17 players and six alternative players hailing from Mount Pearl, Paradise, and Conception Bay South, brought home the silver medal from 44th annual Source for Sports SPUD tournament in Charlottetown, PEI, held Jan. 31 to Feb. 3.

Team staff say it’s the first time a Newfoundland and Labrador team has made it to the finals in this particular competition.

The TriCom Thunder competed against 24 other teams in the Pee Wee Division, playing seven games in three days.

“I’m over the moon with how we performed and how it all came together,” said head coach Shane Skinner.

“It’s fun to see how excited the kids get to keep moving throughout the tournament. It’s exciting to see all that come to together… everything was clicking and all the kids had a blast.”

And even though the team is celebrating, they don’t have time to take it easy quite yet; they begin competing in the NLAAAHL playoffs Feb. 16. According to the NLAAAHL Standings, TriCom AAA Pee Wee Thunder is leading the Division with 77 points.

Players and coaching staff from The Shoreline’s coverage area include Will Carroll of CBS, forward; Finley Dobbin of Paradise, defence; Alex MacDonald of Paradise, defence; Cole Cooper of Paradise, defence; Euan Cleary of CBS, forward; Jack Bartlett of CBS, defense; Jacob LeDrew of CBS, forward; Michael Skinner of Paradise, forward; Jaxsen Healey of Paradise, defence; Joel Kelly of Paradise, forward; Jesse Harnum of CBS, goaltender; Justin Gosse of Paradise, forward; Kyle Greene of Paradise, forward; Ashton Farrell of Paradise, forward; Drew Caines of Paradise; forward; Donald Hickey of CBS, goaltender; Connor Hussey of Paradise, forward; Justin Parsons of Paradise, assistant coach; Sara Diamond of Paradise, trainer; and Krista Mullaly Dobbin of Paradise, director of operations.