Midget AA West Central Tigers capture Las Vegas tourney championship

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Garrity says going to another country to compete in any sport is always a very different experience.

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“I found the officiating to be different, the rules are different, the way they interpret the rules are different, culture, different tendencies, systems, it was a very different game that we played than what we play here,” states Garrity. “It wasn’t good, it wasn’t bad, it was just different and we had to adapt to that. It was definitely an eye-opening experience for us.”

Round-robin play saw the Tigers shut out the Park City Ice Miners 6-0, edge the California Wave 3-2, lose to the Golden State Elite Eagles 4-3 and get by the Arizona Jr. Sun Devils 1-0 before capturing the tournament title.

Garrity says each team they faced in Vegas were really big.

“We’re not a big team but these teams were very big,” he exclaims. “They had big athletes, skated well, fore-checked hard and hit right through us. We found kind of a way to adapt to that but every game was tight. From a positive stand point and from our perspective, we found a way to play good defensive hockey and defend a lead and to play under pressure.”

Garrity says he’s really proud of the way his team found a way to persevere and overcome adversity.

“That was a real stepping-stone in growth for us as a team,” states Garrityy. “I’m really proud of the way they carried themselves. In around the rink, at the different activities they did, we had nothing but compliments from everyone what great young men they were and how they carried themselves with such class.”

Having good people involved is first and foremost for the team according to Garrity.

“Secondly, they played hard and really came together as a group,” he exclaims. “They’re closer now as a team and as a family than when we left. Ultimately, that was one of the big reasons why we wanted to go and we felt its mission accomplished.”

Garrity points-out however, the tournament is really about the memories.

“Hockey not excluded but just going through a big Las Vegas hotel and little things like seeing the Las Vegas strip for the first time or going zip-lining with a buddy down Freemont Street or going down to Station 52 and going through some fire training with a former Tigers player that lives there now and invited us over, just all those things that go into it.”

In terms of the rest of the season for the Tigers, Garrity says they’re focused on all the little details that have to occur in order for them to win championships like the Midget AA South Central Alberta Hockey League title.

“They hand out championships in March so we’ll worry about that closer to,” he explains. “We’re putting the pieces in place on a daily basis and we’ve got a real big weekend coming up in Okotoks and Calgary and it will be a really big test for us. We’re just hoping that we can get better every day and right now that seems to be happening.”

In the big picture, Garrity says it’s important to make note of the effort it takes to have a successful experience like the International Silver Stick tournament in Las Vegas.

“Lots of parents chipped in and really helped,” states Garrity. “The fundraising that goes in, it’s a big undertaking and a big ‘thanks’ goes out to all those people that made it happen for these kids. It was a lifetime experience and one that they’ll be looking back on for a lot of years.”