2023 Taipei CUP Youth Ice Hockey Tournament
Taipei, Taiwan
(October 4-7, 2023)
After a long time, we returned to Taipei to participate in what used to be a fiercely competitive tournament. The U10 division had no less than 10 teams. Arriving a day later than the other teams, we had to hit the ground running with a packed schedule with 3 games on the first day.
Our opening match was against the Taipei Tigers. Despite their strong team filled with talented players, we managed to secure a 5-2 victory. However, it was far from an easy game as we were still shaking off our sleepiness and adjusting our mindset for the tournament.
The second game was against the Universal Sharks. Having observed their previous games, we knew they were going to be a very strong team. We started the game well, but at one point we switched off and lost 8-2. The scoreline could have been narrower; we knew we could have performed better.
The crucial game of the day was in the evening against Poseidon. A win would almost guarantee us a spot in the semi-finals, while a loss would mean the end of our tournament journey. We played a solid game, demonstrating disciplined positioning and good defence in the D-zone. Our efforts paid off as we scored four goals and conceded none, securing our ticket to the semi-finals before the last group game.
On the second day of the tournament, we faced Puck Moose in our final group game. Despite a 4-0 victory, our performance was not up to par as we struggled to create offensive opportunities.
The semi-final against Silver Monster, who topped their group, was our best defensive game so far. However, our struggle to score persisted. In the final minutes, they scored a goal, and despite pulling our goalie for an extra player, we couldn’t equalize. They scored another goal in the empty net, and we lost 2-0. The loss reminded us of the importance of humility and teamwork.
On the third and final day of the tournament, we played for the bronze medal against Golden Eagle. It was a challenging game, but we came out with the win and secured third place in the tournament. While it was a commendable performance, we recognized the need to improve our team chemistry and spirit. Every tournament is a learning experience, and we are confident that each one will make us stronger as a team.
By Coach Ludovic
In the Taipei tournament, our U13 Selects had two teams in the same division. The U13 Blue team was the travelling team for Quebec, and the U13 White team was made up of other Selects members. The U13 division had many teams from Taipei, our two teams, and the Kung Pow Kings from Hong Kong.
Our Blue team did really well in the round robin games, winning all of them. But in the final game, the local Silver Monster team scored first and defended their lead well. Our Blue team won a silver medal and learned a lot for the Quebec Peewee 2024 tournament.
Our White team made it to the bronze medal game. But the local Taipei Tigers were too strong and we didn’t get much chance to fight for the win.
Our teams came in 2nd and 4th place. We could have done better, but this time we respect the better team in the final. We’re already excited for the next chance!
By Coach Matti
