HARRINGTON COLLEGE JUNIOR “A” ICEBERGS CLAIM THE COVETED AMERICA EAST HOCKEY LEAGUE’S VICTORIA CUP FOR THE 2nd CONSECUTIVE SEASON

Monday March 31, 2008 Wooster, Ohio
For the third consecutive season the Harrington College of Canada flagship team, the Junior “A” Icebergs found themselves in the AEHL Championship Final and for the 2nd year in a row the Icebergs claim the Victoria Cup awarded to the league’s playoff champions.

“A reflection of our program,” announced Dan D’Astoli Program Director for Harrington College of Canada. “With the professional instruction and hockey specific training these boys receive, it is no surprise that they are the league’s best.”

Alice Noble Arena in Wooster, Ohio was the location again this year of the America East Hockey League’s Championship Showcase featuring the top 4 teams of the regular season. “Although we finished fourth in regular season play, our Juniors, have lost only 3 games in their last 29,” explained D’Astoli, “so this comes as no surprise.”

The Icebergs opened the best of 3 semi-final series against the first place South Jersey Raptors on Friday afternoon. With the superb net minding of Jared Coreau who was the league’s best goalie in regular season, the Bergs took a 3-0 lead and never looked back. The scoring for the Icebergs was lead by 16 year old Australia native Wehebe Darge (2 goals) Paris Heyd from New Zealand 1 goal and 1 assist, Karl Taylor from Winsdor, Ontario, 15 year old Patrick Ryan from Florida, Joe Minnich 16 year old from Deleware and Marc Myre, a Quebec native each got a goal while16 year old Shige Kakudate from Japan had 3 assists and Pier Paul Landry from New Brunswick also got a pair of assists. Zack Buckland (Florida), Harrison Rigsby (Florida) and 14 year old Sho Kawachi from Japan each earned an assist as Harrington took game 1 by a score of 7-4.

In Game 2 of the best of 3 series Harrington eliminated the regular season champions by a score of 3-1. Goals were scored by Marc Myre, 1 goal 1 assist, Paris Heyd and captain Hiroki Iwasaki from Japan. Pier Paul Landry got 2 assists in this close and hard fought game. Jared Coreau turned away 51 shots from the frustrated South Jersey team who managed to put only 1 by him on a late power play goal.

Game 1 of the Championship final featured the Icebergs against the Dover Seawolves. Again the rookies came out strong for the Icebergs with goals from Wehebe Darge (2 goals), Zack Buckland 1 goal and 1 assist and Harrison Rigsby also got a goal and an assist. Jared Coreau was again in spectacular form turning away 35 shots and allowing but 2 goals in the Icebergs 4-2.

Game 2 of the Championship final was a carefully played contest. Both teams were score less after the first period and then in the second Harrington got on the board with a goal from Patrick Ryan assisted by Zack Buckland and Joe Minnich. Jared Coreau was tested again on an awarded penalty shot but he showed why he was named the goalie to the First League Team and made an incredible pad save to keep Harrington’s 1-0 lead. Marc Myre gave the Icebergs a 2-0 lead assisted by Pier Paul Landry and Shige Kakudate. The Seawolves managed to get 1 goal late in the 3rd but the Icebergs prevailed to eliminate the Dover team and become the first team in the leagues history to win back to back Championship titles.

“We are very proud of these players” said John Keightley president and founder of Harrington College of Canada “this is the 2nd year in a row that we are undefeated in the playoffs.”

Martin Daoust, Head Coach of the Icebergs and Hockey Director for Harrington College of Canada, was quite pleased with his troops. “These boys were a pleasure to work with all season and they really deserve this,” said an exuberant Daoust, “I believe that champions are made, they are not born and these guys dedicated themselves five days a week to practice and train to be the best and they proved again this year that they were.”

Harrington College of Canada has student/players from around the world who are provided with the right balance of Academics and Athletics. “We do not look for the best players or the best students for our program, we look for the best individuals,” explained D’Astoli. “We have a professional staff of coaches, instructors, sport psychologist, therapists, nutritionists and teachers who spend 10 months a year training these individuals five days a week on the ice and in the classroom. This is why we get these results.”

Harrington College of Canada is proving year after year that they have the right formula for hockey players to get to the next level. “Last season, we managed to promote 6 players to the next level at Junior Major, NCAA and professional ranks, this year we have 8 of our players invited to attend Junior Major tryouts while a few of our boys will be competing in NCAA,” announced John Keightley. “It’s always nice to see dreams come true and we're glad that we can offer the right balance of hockey and academics to help players from around the world achieve their dreams.”