The 2008 IIHF World Youth Tournament finished yesterday by crowning four champions. This year`s IIHF World Championship in Quebec marks the first time that a minor hockey tournament has been held in conjunction with the IIHF World Championship.
The Quebec Citadelles captured the championship in the boys pee-wee division with a 5-1 victory at Michel Labadie arena over the Suroit Express. It was a team effort for the Citadelles with five different players scoring a goal and goalie, Benjamin Avoine-Jean standing tall in the Citadelles net.
After shootout victories for both teams in the semi-finals, the Riv Sud Express won the bantam division with a convincing 8-1 victory over the Richelieu Eclaireurs. In the championship game, Mickaël Marois led the Express with one goal and three assists. Goaltender Dominic Lachance was named Player of the Game for the Express.
The Rideau St-Lawrence Thunder defeated the Rafales de Mauricie, 1-0 in OT in a tightly played game at the St. Foy arena to capture the girls bantam championship. The winning goal was scored by Lisa-Marie Bibeau at 6:20 of the fourth period. Kelly Foran had the shutout for the Thunder.
The girls pee-wee division was also decided in overtime, when Camille Frechette-Girard scored at the 1:24 mark to lead the Elites Estrie to a 1-0 win over the Barrie Sharks. The Elites were backstopped by Sabrina Desilets’ shutout in the final.
There were 38 teams competing in this year’s IIHF World Youth Tournament. While in Quebec City teams played in a minimum of three games and were able to attend one game of the IIHF World Championship.