U-18 team goes Wild at Richmond tournament

WENATCHEE - Champions. It's a title the Wenatchee Wild U18 team will have to get used to after winning the 30th Annual Richmond International Midget Hockey Tournament in Richmond, British Columbia, on Dec. 31.

The Wild went 6-0-1 at the tournament, including a 6-5 win over the Vancouver NE Chiefs in the gold medal game. It was a tremendous outcome for the Wild at the 5-day, 10-team event, which is regarded as the one of the elite tournaments on the west coast of North America.

Mark Collins, son of Wenatchee Wild general manager Rod Collins and head coach of the Warriors U17 team in Bellingham, Wash., coached the Wild to the title. The Wild got off to a dubious start in the tournament after escaping its first game, against the Edge Prep Mountaineers, with a 2-2 tie. Wenatchee would go on to win all six of its remaining games.

After wining its next three round robin games, the Wild defeated the Okanagan Hockey School in the quarterfinals, 6-2, behind 2-goal performances by Chad Staley (Kennewick, Wash.) and Steven Sherman (San Diego, Calif.). The Wild then defeated the Alaska Allstars in the semifinals, 3-0, to advance the tournament championship game. Austin Hoff's (Snohomish, Wash.) first-period goal was the eventual game-winner against Alaska thanks to brilliant shutout goaltending by Austin Brihn (Mukilteo, Wash.).

The championship contest went back-and-forth all game with Wenatchee defenseman Tyler Narsing (Seattle, Wash.) recording what would count as the game-winner with just over a minute remaining in regulation.

Max McHugh (Edgewood, Wash.) led the Wild's offensive attack with 12 points (7G, 5A), which tied him with the third most points at the tournament among all skaters. Sherman, who recorded nine points (6G, 3A), was named the tournament MVP.

Wild Game MVPs:

Game 1 - Brian Farkas

Game 2 - Max McHugh

Game 3 - Tyler Narsing

Game 4 - Trevor Stewart

Game 6 - Austin Brihn

Game 7 - Peter Mingus

Starting tomorrow, the Wild (21-12-2 ) begin a three-game home series against the Kenai Brown Bears at the Town Toyota Center, beginning at 6:35 p.m.