Ranger Teams 6 for 6 at Bell Cup

The 2007-08 edition of the Bell Capital Cup has come to a close and the Gloucester Rangers left their mark on every division.
With 6 teams representing the association this year the Green and White of the Ranger uniform was visible on the ice at all 6 levels when the playoff rounds opened on Sunday, Dec 30th and for some teams was still visible on New Years eve at Scotiabank place when the Championship finals were played.
Here is a report on each team's performance at this year's Bell Cup.

At Major Atom A the Rangers took their undefeated round robin record of 3-0 into the quarter finals to face the Port Perry Predators. Unfortunately the result was not what they were looking for and they dropped a heartbreaking 3-1 decision to allow Port Perry to move on. In their round robin games the Atom A team played Ted Reeve Thunder (6-0 win), Innisfil Winterhawks (7-1 win), and the Kingston Township Titans (3-1 win).
Despite the quarter final loss congratulations are in order to players and coaches for a great effort and an impressive run at a Bell Cup title.

The Major Atom AA team started their playoff run against local rivals Ottawa Sting and easily and decisively ended the Sting's quest for a Bell Cup title with a 6-1 victory. The team then followed up with a semi-final win over Seaway Valley Rapids. This victory however did not come easily as the Rangers battled through double OT to claim the 4-3 decision and a place in the championship game. The final had the Rangers matched against their third local rival, the Kanata Blazers. In a tense and exciting final game the Rangers clung on to a one goal lead to claim the Bell Capital Cup with a 2-1 win.
The road to the playoffs saw the Atom AA team play games against the Kingston Ice Cats (4-0 win), the Nepean Raiders (4-0 win) and the New England Jr. Falcons (3-1 loss). Congratulations to the Atom AA players and coaches on a wonderful tournament championship.

For the Minor Peewee A team defense would be the name of the game. In perhaps the tightest scoring series of games of any level the Rangers worked a 2-0-1 round robin record into a spot in the quarter finals. In games against the Auroa Tigers (2-1 win), the Applewood Coyotes (2-2 tie) and the Cumberland Barons (2-1 win) the MPW A team proved the defense wins championships, or at least gets you into the playoffs.
The tight scoring did not end with the round robin. In their quarter final match up with the Cambridge Hawks the Rangers scored only twice...but when you only allow 1 goal in return 2 goals is all you need. A trip to the semi-finals saw them paired with cross town rivals, Kanata Blazers. And true to form the team played another low scoring game. Unfortunately for the team though, the low score was not in their favor and they ended their fabulous run on the negative side of a 2-0 score.
In their five games the MPW A team allowed only 7 goals!! A truly remarkable accomplishment. Congrats to the players and coaches for your fine showing.

The Minor Peewee AA team must have looked at their wildcard spot in the playoffs as a second chance and a new life. After wrapping up the rounds robin with a 2-1-0 record the Rangers faced the Whitby Wildcats in the quarter finals. The AA team had dropped a 1-0 loss to the Wildcats on day one of the tournament so retribution was in order. At the final buzzer the Rangers had put 5 pucks behind the Wildcats netminder, enough for the decisive 5-1 win. With the energy a 5-1 win brings the team moved on to face the Lakeland Hawks in the semi. Not willing to let the goal scoring fever come to an end the Rangers scored 6 to the Hawks 1 and a trip to the championship final was locked up.
In the final the Rochester Rattlers were simply not prepared for the offensive attack they were about to face. Out shooting the Rattlers almost 2 to 1 the MPW AA Rangers racked up another 7 goals to claim the title of Bell Capital Cup champions.
With the Atom AA team still in the building clutching their trophies and cheering on the MPW AA team the Rangers were 2 for 2 on the day. There had been 2 titles awarded and the Rangers owned them both!!!
Congratulations on a wonderful victory to all the players and the coaching staff of the Minor Peewee AA team.

Those in attendance may remember it as one of the most exciting playoff games the Bell Cup has ever witnessed. The Peewee A team locked horns with the Ottawa Silver Seven White team in their quarter final game at Ray Friel and nobody wanted to lose. That was evident from the triple OT it took to decide a winner. That's right folks, triple OT. They almost played two games to decide what typically take one game to work out.
Disappointment had to be high for these young men. On the strength of a perfect 3-0 round robin record where the Rangers scored 22 goals and allowed 0, the team was well positioned to make a run at a championship title.
The 22 goals scored by the team where done so at the expense of the Nepean White Raiders (3-0), Akwesasne (12-0) and Karhu-Kissat 95 Cats from Finland (7-0).
Way to go boys...a great display of offense and a great effort. To the players and coaches...congratulations.

When the final day of round robin play started for the Major Peewee AA team they found themselves in one of those dreaded places where they needed to win big AND needed other teams to lose. The stars had to align perfectly. Their playoff life hung on goal differential.
After a 4-3 win versus the Markham Waxers and a 3-1 loss to Latvia Prizma the Rangers needed a 5-0 win over Timmins Readyquip Rampage to have a chance. The team responded to task #1 and went on to defeat Timmins 5-1. Now it was waiting time.
When the dust had settled both Kanata and Rideau St Lawerence had dropped their final round robin games and the Rangers were headed to the quarter finals as the 3rd wildcard team.
That joy was short lived though as the team dropped a shattering 2-1 loss in OT to the Seaway valley Rapids. Despite the loss the coaching staff was very impressed with the play of the team. The game was well played by both squads and the Ranger goaltending was magnificent. Unfortunately one team had to lose and it came down to that one critical shot on net. The players deserve a huge congratulations for their play and efforts at this tournament.