The Chippewa Raiders opened the 43rd Annual NDA High School Hockey Tournament with a 3-2 loss to perennial NOSSA favourites St Charles College on Thursday morning, only to see the Raiders then run the table with 5 consecutive wins to capture the Championship Saturday afternoon defeating the St Charles Cardinals 3-1.
This was the first time in the 43 year history of the tournament that the Raiders captured the coveted championship.
In today's tournament final, Captain Haden Corbeil opened the scoring for the Raiders with a blast from the high slot giving the Chippewa squad an early
1-0 lead only to see the Cardinals tie it up moments later.
Midway through the second Bryce McIntyre lit the lamp on a great feed from Gavin Shaw giving the Raiders a 2-1 lead.
The third period was a tight checking affair with both teams exchanging several scoring chances. The Raiders tenacious forecheck and stingy defensive frustrated the Sudbury team throughout the period. Chippewa goaltender Nate Howes was a rock in the Raider goal throughout the game
With 1:30 left on the clock the Cardinals pulled their goalie for the extra attacker only to see Corbeil seal the championship with an open net goal with just under 10 seconds left in the game.
"This win was long awaited and well deserved for several grade 11 and 12 players who committed to this program 2-3 years ago in our revival of Raider Hockey," said coach Greg Richardson.
Chippewa centre man Will Petrie was named Tourney MVP.
