Sunday, February 10th saw two members of the Lakers Major Peewee team,
PJ Conlon and
Joe Metzger, participate in the finals of the McDonalds Skills First Challenge at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
Both Lakers advanced after participating in a Regional Skills Challenge session held in Kitchener earlier in the month (read the earlier article on the four Lakers who participated in this Regional session by
clicking here).
The McDonalds Skills First Challenge is organized by the Toronto Maple Leafs to help improve minor hockey in Canada and reinforce a "skills are fun" feeling with every minor hockey player they work with. The Skills First Challenge uses the same challenges as Hockey Canada's National Skills Standards and Testing Program. Hockey Canada's national standardized testing program impacts thousands of players across Canada. The Skills First Challenge uses seven skill challenges for skaters, and three for goalies. Having two players advance to participate in such a highly competitve event is a testament to the value of the Lakers program and its emphasis on skill development.
The Challenge finals were held early in the morning (8:45 to 10 a.m.) before the annual Leafs Skills Competition. PJ Conlon competed in the skater category while Joe Metzger competed in the goalie category. As could be expected at this level, the skills of all the players making it to the finals were impressive. Metzger placed third in his category and, although we don't know Conlon's final placement since they only announced the top three, it was clear that PJ held his own against some very stiff competition.
Both players exhibited "Lakers pride" and represented our organization well. Way to go, guys, keep working hard!
The Atom and Peewee group awaiting the results of the Skills Challenge Finals.