The Aldergrove Midget A2 Bruins gambled and won down in Las Vegas last week, but it wasn't in the casinos.
In their first-ever foray into the Las Vegas President's Day Weekend Hockey Tournament the young lads from Aldergrove won all but one of five games to take the championship.
In the championship game, Monday, Feb. 18, Aldergrove was tied at 3-3 with San Jose at end of regulation, with no scoring in overtime either. When it came down to the best-of-five shootout Aldergrove's first three shooters all scored and with none for San Jose, Aldergrove won 4-3.
The series had opened on Friday, Feb. 15, with a 2-2 tie in Aldergrove's first game against San Jose. On Saturday, Feb. 16, Aldergrove's second game versus Stockton Colts was 4-3 win.
Aldergrove notched another pair of wins on Sunday, Feb. 17, with their third game versus Colorado a 6-0 win and their fourth game versus Valencia Express a 5-3 win.
There were 40 teams participating at Las Vegas Ice Center, from Atom to Midget levels. There were five teams at the Midget level, including Aldergrove.
Alan Radnai, the Aldergrove Bruins team manager, said "the win was kind of special because the U.S. teams were aged up to 19."
Aldergrove Bruins were mostly third-year players, with a couple of second- and first-year players. The team roster includes Michael Bencze, John Krentz, Wyatt Amato, Kevan Brokhuyson, Tristin Buchner, Steven Bunt, Daylen Culfa, Cameron Ellis, Brett Hollins, Lincoln Nikkel, Skyler Nishi, Nathan Radnai, Jerad Stuart, Devin Stone, Caleb Vilio, Elijah Vilio, Dustin Wilkinson and Dryden Wust.
Head coach is Carlo Calfa, assistants are Peter Nikkel and Darnell Calfa, and HSCP is Gino Amato.