A Columbus youth hockey team competed against some of the best peewee hockey players in the world, and have the hardware to show for it as they just returned victorious to Central Ohio from Quebec, Canada. Playing on the winning team – the 2001 AAA Blue Jackets – are three students from the Westerville City School District – Alex Vineyard from Walnut Springs, and Spencer Cox and Mason Fortin from Genoa Middle School.
The 55th annual Quebec City Peewee Hockey Tournament hosts about 2,300 competitors from more than 15 countries, making it one of the largest peewee hockey tournaments in the world. The 2001 AAA Blue Jackets competed in the class AA-Elite group and won the tournament, registering five wins and allowing just 11 goals against in those games.
In route to the championship, they defeated teams from Slovakia, Canada, the United States and, finally, Select de Suisse from Switzerland. The final game had approximately 10,000 fans in attendance, cheering on the two teams of hockey players in what was undoubtedly the biggest matchup of their young careers. The game was close the whole way through, including a 3-2 score at the end of two periods. The Blue Jackets held on and scored once again in the third period to capture the title. The semi final and final games were televised in Quebec.
In addition to walking away with a world title, the 12-year-olds on the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets spent 10 days immersed in the rich culture of Quebec. Each player stayed with French-speaking local families, called billets, who took them in, fed them, cared for them, and transported them to and from the arena.
The team will be honored on the ice by the Blue Jackets this Saturday, March 1, before their 2:00 p.m. game against the Florida Panthers.