Weekend Recap: 2023 CCM Florida Winter Cup
Unwrapping the Excitement of the First Annual CCM Florida Winter Cup
What an incredible weekend it was as we celebrated the inaugural CCM Florida Winter Cup! The thrill of hockey resonated in the air as 79 boys’ youth hockey teams gathered in Florida, bringing an unmatched energy to conclude our spectacular lineup of 2023 events. A heartfelt thank you goes out to the passionate players, dedicated coaches, and the families who made this weekend truly unforgettable. With a total of 181 exhilarating games, the competition was fierce, and the fun was limitless. Dive into the division breakdowns to witness the triumphs and discover which teams emerged victorious in this unforgettable celebration of hockey!
JUMP TO BIRTH YEAR: 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014
2009 Divisions
2009 Supertacks Division
Champion: Florida Alliance North
Howie’s Hockey MVP:Â
Florida Alliance North secured their spot in the final with a commanding 6-0 shutout victory over the Carolina Jr. Hurricanes. This win not only extended their shutout streak to four games but also preserved their flawless 5-0-0 record. Facing them in the final was Okanagan Hockey CO, who, after a 4-2 triumph over Omaha Mastery in the semi-final, stood at 4-1-0 for the weekend. Notably, Okanagan’s lone loss came at the hands of the Alliance earlier in the weekend. In a fiercely contested match, Okanagan presented a formidable challenge, but the Alliance ultimately emerged victorious with a 3-2 score, securing an undisputed and undefeated championship.
2009 Jetspeed Division
Champion: St. Louis Sting
Howie’s Hockey MVP:Â
In the semi-final matchups of the 2009 Jetspeed Division, there were no upsets, with both the West Dundee Leafs and St. Louis Sting securing victories to maintain their flawless 5-0-0 records. Throughout the weekend, both teams showcased a high level of performance, averaging over four goals scored per game and conceding fewer than two goals per game. The St. Louis Sting set the tone from the outset, dominating the ice and securing a 5-2 championship victory. The final buzzer marked the culmination of their perfect weekend, with Sting gear littering the ice in celebration as they earned their well-deserved banner.
2010 Divisions
2010 Supertacks Division
Champion: Florida Alliance
Howie’s Hockey MVP:Â
The 2010 Supertacks Division could be aptly described as a division of parody. Three out of the four semi-final teams boasted a 3-1-0 record, while the Vermont Flames squeezed in with a 2-1-1 record. In the first Sunday morning semi-final, the Florida Alliance swiftly sent the Vermont Flames home. The other semi-final between the Anaheim Ice Dogs and the Tampa Bulls proved to be a lengthier affair, requiring a shootout to determine the winner. Their initial weekend match ended 5-4 in pool play, and the semi-final match concluded with the same score after the shootout. In the final, the Ice Dogs faced the hometown Alliance. Although the Alliance had shut out the Ice Dogs in pool play, they couldn’t prevent them from scoring in the final. Ultimately, the Alliance emerged victorious with a 5-3 score, clinching their championship title and banner.
2010 Jetspeed Division
Champion: Queen City Royals
Howie’s Hockey MVP:Â
After a shutout by the St. Louis Sting in the weekend’s opening game, the Queen City Royals found themselves in a rematch in the semi-final. The Royals secured a 3-1 victory, propelling them to the championship against another familiar opponent, the Tampa Bay Crunch. Despite a 2-2 tie on Saturday during pool play, the championship introduced a new day with elimination and glory on the line. The title match remained tight, reaching its climax in the final seconds, where the Royals successfully held off the hometown team, securing a 3-2 win. This triumph earned the Royals their banner, and the players joyously gathered around it for a championship photo.
2011 Divisions
2011 Supertacks Division
Champion: Florida Alliance Elite
Howie’s Hockey MVP:Â
On Saturday, the day wrapped up with a shutout victory for Florida Alliance Elite against Honeybaked, and Team Illinois narrowly edged out the Tri-Valley Bulls with a 5-4 win. The following day saw a rematch between these two semi-final victors for the championship. Their initial encounter ended in a 5-5 draw, and history repeated itself in the championship match, leading to a shootout to determine the title. Ultimately, the Alliance emerged victorious in the shootout, securing a 4-3 championship win.
2011 Jetspeed Division
Champion: Queen City Royals
Howie’s Hockey MVP:
Despite setbacks against the Palm Beach Breakers and Tampa Bay Crunch, the Dallas Penguins, sporting a 1-2-0 record, were unquestionably labeled as underdogs entering their quarter-final clash against NEST Hockey Academy. As the saying goes, “get in, and anything can happen.” In a surprising turn of events, the Penguins upset NEST 4-3 in a shootout, securing a berth in the semi-finals where they exacted revenge on the Palm Beach Breakers, propelling them to the championship. Their final adversary, the Gulf Coast Flames, entered the championship undefeated and fresh off an overtime victory against the Tampa Bay Crunch. The championship unfolded as a closely contested battle, culminating in a 3-2 victory for the Flames. This win completed an undisputed and undefeated weekend for the Flames, earning them the championship banner.
2012 Divisions
2012 Supertacks Division
Champion: Golden Wolves
Howie’s Hockey MVP:Â
Little did the Tampa Jr. Bulls know that their opening game of the weekend would turn out to be their most crucial victory in pool play. As pool play concluded, the Golden Wolves found themselves at the top seed, while the second seed had two teams, the Jr. Bulls and the Toronto Reps, tied with matching 2-1-1 records. The Jr. Bulls’ triumph over Toronto in the opening game granted them the head-to-head tiebreaker, securing their spot in the championship against the Golden Wolves.Heading into the championship with a pristine 3-0-1 record, including a previous win over the Jr. Bulls, the Golden Wolves faced them again in a tightly contested match. The Wolves emerged victorious once more, this time with a 3-2 score, securing the championship banner.
2012 Jetspeed Division
Champion: CCFL Hurricanes
Howie’s Hockey MVP:
The Ashburn Xtreme faced an early setback with a challenging loss to the Boston Americans. However, they quickly regrouped, stringing together four consecutive victories, including a shutout against Team Ohio Premier in the semi-final. In the championship, Ashburn squared off against the undefeated homestate CFL Hurricanes, who were averaging an impressive seven goals per game. While the Xtreme managed to contain the Hurricane offense to some extent, it proved insufficient. The Hurricanes secured a 3-1 victory, completing their undisputed and undefeated weekend, and claiming both the title and championship banner.
2013 Division
Champion: Music City Marauders
Howie’s Hockey MVP:Â
As Sunday dawned, only four teams remained, with the Carolina Jr. Canes Black and Junior Everblades standing as the sole undefeated contenders. The Jr. Canes secured their spot in the final by shutting out the Tampa Bay Jr. Lightning in the semi-final. Meanwhile, the other semi-final featured a rematch, with the Junior Everblades having previously defeated the Music City Marauders 10-5 in pool play. However, the Marauders turned the tables this time, holding the Everblades’ offense in check and winning 4-3.The championship unfolded as a southeastern hockey showdown between the Jr. Canes and the Marauders. In the end, it was the Marauders who emerged victorious, claiming the banner with a 5-3 win over the Jr. Canes in the championship.
2014 Division
Champion: Baystate Breakers
Howie’s Hockey MVP:
Closing out pool play with a decisive 6-0 shutout victory proved essential for the Baystate Breakers as they secured the fourth and final seed to advance to the semi-final round. In the subsequent match, they faced the undefeated Icestorm White, a team they had previously lost to earlier in the weekend. This time, the Breakers turned the tide, securing a narrow victory and advancing to face the Carolina Jr. Hurricanes in the championship. The championship proved to be a closely contested affair, but the Breakers ultimately emerged victorious with a 5-3 score, earning them the championship title and leaving Florida with their newly acquired banner.
As the inaugural CCM Florida Winter Cup concludes, we stand at the midpoint of our season, eagerly anticipating the upcoming 2024 events. Limited spots are available in select divisions, offering a chance to be part of the excitement. Explore the 2023-24 season lineup here. Before we dive into the next chapter, we extend heartfelt wishes for safe and joyous travels over the holidays. Take this time away from the rink to create cherished moments with your families. We look forward to welcoming you back refreshed and ready for more hockey action in the new year!
