North American Hockey Academy

 NAHA Red & White medalled in the final USA Canada Cup Series weekend of 2011 in Kitchener ON.

 NAHA Red brought the attention on themselves from the college souting world with the progress they've made, both as a team and individually, in the short two plus months they've been together. Coming from many differnt parts of the country, with different backbrounds, twelve new players joined 8 returnees, and have dedicated themselves in practice, in the off ice workouts and through their competitions to becoming the best they can be. From a 2-3 start in the first Detroit USA Canada Cup weekend, this team and the players on it have grown, played great hockey against older teams and had success, and it all came together in the Kitchener weekend, going 4-0 in the U17 round robin leading up to the Gold Medal game with our great friends, the Ottawa Midget Senators. It was a great game, a chess match, as opposed to their first match, and 8-1 loss. Right up to the final minute it was a 1 goal game, until Ottawa got the empty net goal, and NAHA Red captured the Silver Medal, something they should be very poud of.

 NAHA White entered the weekend after some inconsistent play over their past 2 JWHL weekends, but focused on one of their favorite Series of the year. As defending Gold Medalists, they focused on their goals, and the practices during the preceding week showed it, with a singular midset and focus from all the players. They knew they'd open with the Toronto Jr. Aeros, undefeated in their league, the PWHL acclaimed by many as the best league in the world for this age players. They also had the #2, #5 and #9 teams on their schedule, and looked forward to a great tournament. They didn't disappoint playing some of the best hockey the college hockey scouts had seen at this age level, beating the top 3 Canadian teams by 3 goals in each game, and a rematch with their lone blemish of the weekend, an over-time loss to the Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres in a penalty filled and quirky game. The Gold Medal game was fast paced, physical and exciting, played in the historic Kitcher Aud's main arena. NAHA White claimed the prize with a 3-0 win, and the Gold Medal for the 2nd consecutive year.

Gold Medal Game MVP's:
NAHA Red: Ashley Wilkes, G
NAHA White: Dayna Colang, D

Congrats to both NAHA teams on a great first half of the season, and Happy Holidays to all!!