HEAD COACH RICHER GET'S CALLED TO MAJOR LEAGUE

HCC ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF MARTIN DAOUST

Carling Lake, Tuesday, October 16, 2007 - Harrington College of Canada is pleased to announce the appointment of Martin Daoust to the position of Hockey Director and Head Coach of the Junior Icebergs. Mr. Daoust will take over from Mario Richer, who resigned suddenly to take an assistant coach position with the Gatineau Olympiques in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Martin Daoust has a wealth of experience in the world of hockey, education and administration. For the last 15 years, Martin has been working as a teacher of Physical Education as well as Head Coach and Assistant Coach in Quebec Junior Major and the Quebec Midget AAA League. He has also worked with the Quebec National under 17 team as Head Coach and Assistant Coach. He was the Technical Director for the Quebec Midget AAA League and as coach, winner of the coveted Air Canada Cup, the Canadian Midget AAA Championship.

“His experience as a coach, educator and Technical Director made him an easy choice for our program” announced Dan D’Astoli Program Director for Harrington College. “He has an outstanding and impeccable reputation as a coach and individual and we are thrilled that he will head our hockey program.”

Martin will join the Junior Icebergs on their road trip to Delaware this weekend and will begin working with all the Harrington teams as of November 3, 2007.

Icebergs Capture Another Championship

Harrington College’s Bantam Team Wins the Elite
AAA Outaouais Tournament

Harrington, Quebec, Canada, Monday, April 30, 2007   
 
The Harrington College Icebergs Bantam squad captured the Outaouais AAA championship on April 22, 2007. The tournament saw the top teams from the Ottawa valley area, Montreal, Kingston and the United States of America. The Icebergs were the only undefeated team in the tournament. Harrington won their first game 8-5 against Outaouais Express and won their second game 7-0 against the Lac St Louis Lions. The third game of the tournament was a hard fought 4-3 victory against the Kingston representative, Rona Rage. The fourth game saw Harrington manhandle Webster Hockey Academy 7-0, a game that was called early in the 3rd period on the mercy rule.

Harrington finished the preliminary round first over all and played the USA Metro Selects hockey team in the semi-final game. The Icebergs won 7-2 on goals from Zack Allen (2) Sho Kawachi, Brayden Clancy and David Roy.  

The final game of the tournament saw a rematch between Rona Rage and Harrington College of Canada and it was another tight fought battle. The Icebergs went ahead 2-0 in the first period on goals from Zack Allen and David Roy. Rona Rage came back to take the lead in the second period, 3-2. Harrington tied the game in the third period at the 8:43 mark on a goal scored by Erik Gudbranson that was set up by Patrick Ryan and Mark Dumont. The Iceberg's Mark Dumont scored the winner at 11:19 of the third period.  

March 2007

   Icebergs capture AEHL Victoria Cup

Mickael Gasnier's wins Goalie of the Year in the America East Hockey League

Harrington, Quebec - March 26, 2007 

After 3 years in Canada, the Blerville (France) native, Mickael Gasnier has won his first award in Canada. Named the America East Hockey League's Goalie of the Year, Gasnier is feeling proud of himself. Mickael won player of the month (Goalie) twice this season.

It was back in the summer of 2004 that the then 16 year old Gasnier decided to leave France for Montreal, Quebec, the hockey Mecca of the world. Mickael joined Harrington College of Canada (HCC) in September, 2004, a private college that develops and promotes hockey players in both sport and academics.  

Being in Canada is one of the best ways to reach the NHL because of the many paths available. "The international players who develop in Division 1 with their national teams have very few opportunities to make it to the NHL from their countries. But HCC strives to give them more opportunities," said Dan D'Astoli, Program Director for Harrington College of Canada. "If the players aren't drafted by the NHL from our league, our school prepares the player for university where they always have the opportunity to join the prestigious American university league (NCAA)." The school not only offers the necessary training, but provides students with an excellent academic program that gives them the opportunity to follow their dreams.

Mickael's ultimate goal has always been to play in the NHL and in his quest he has accomplished much. The 1987-born goaltender has played for the French national U18 and U20 teams for the past 3 years. At 18 he was the goalie for the French under 20 team at the Division 1 World Championships.

This season was a highlight for Mickael in his hockey career as he proved to be the best. "This is quite an accomplishment for a French goalie playing in North America and especially Quebec," said D'Astoli. "This year he learned to be consistent and I believe he is ready for the next level." The next level that Mickael plans to play at is the NCAA Division I, and he is in negotiations with several universities for next year. "I'm confidant that Mickael will one day make it to the NHL," said former NHL player and coach at HCC, Igor Kravchuk.

Mickaël Gasnier remporte le trophé de Meilleur Gardien de la saison dans l'America East Hockey League

Lundi 26 mars 2007 - Harrington, Québec

Après 3 ans au Canada, le natif de Bierville (France), Mickaël Gasnier a remporté son premier trophé au Canada. Nommé gardien de l'année dans l'America East Hockey League, Gasnier se sent vraiment fier de lui. Mickaël a également remporté 3 titres de gardien du mois (octobre, décembre et janvier).

C'est durant l'été 2004 que Gasnier décida de quitter la France pour Montréal au Québec, le berceau du hockey, à l'âge de 17 ans. Mickaël joignit en septembre 2004 Harrington College of Canada (HCC), un college privé qui développe les joueurs de hockey sur l'aspect aussi bien académique que sportif.

Etre au Canada est l'un des meilleurs moyens pour se rendre en NHL grâce aux nombreuses voies disponibles. « Les joueurs internationaux qui évoluent en Division 1 avec leurs équipes nationales ont très peu de chance de se rendre en NHL à partir de leur pays d'origine mais HCC s'efforce de leur offrir plus d'opportunités » a dit Dan D'Astoli, Directeur de programme avec Harrington College of Canada. « Si les joueurs ne sont pas draftés par la NHL à partir de notre league, notre école aura préparé le joueur pour aller en université, où ils ont toujours une chance de joindre la prestigieuse ligue universitaire américaine (NCAA). » L'école n'offre pas seulement l'entraînement nécessaire mais elle fournit aux étudiants un excellent programme académique qui leur donne une chance de poursuivre leurs rêves.

Le but ultime de Mickaël a toujours été de jouer dans la LNH. Cependant il a déjà accompli beaucoup d'exploits. Le gardien né en 1987 a joué pour les équipes de France moins de 18 et moins de 20 ans pendant les 3 dernieres année. A l'âgé de 18ans, il était le gardien partant pour l'équipe de France des moins de 20 ans aux Championnats du Monde de division 1.

Cette saison fut superbe pour Mickaël au niveau du hockey car il a prouvé qu'il était le meilleur. « Ceci est vraiment un accomplissement pour un gardien francais qui joue en Amérique du Nord et plus spécialement au Québec », commenta D'Astoli. « Cette année, il a appris à être consistent and je crois qu'il est prêt pour le niveau suivant ». Le niveau suivant que Mickaël essaye d'atteindre est de jouer en NCAA (division 1) et il est en négaciations avec plusiseurs universités pour l'année prochaine. « Je suis très confiant que Mickael vas un jour évoluer en NHL », s'exclama l'ancien joueur de NHL et coach a HCC, Igor Kravchuk.

Harrington College of Canada AEHL 2006-2007 Champions

Wooster, Ohio, Monday, March 26, 2007

This past weekend, Wooster, Ohio, was the sight of the America East Hockey League Playoffs. Seven awards were handed out by the America East Junior A Hockey League. Harrington College of Canada laid claim to four of them, including the most prized of all — the America East Hockey League's Victoria Cup, awarded to the Playoff Champions.

A banner year is an understatement when you mention the season that the Harrington College Junior A Icebergs have had. They clinched first place overall in the regular season in the America East Junior A Hockey League, they set two league records, most consecutive wins with 13, and a 17 game undefeated streak. Veteran goalie Mickael Gasnier (Rouen, France) received best goalie in the league honors and Quebec native Olivier Dame Malka (Pierrefonds, Quebec) was honored as the league's best defenseman at 17 years of age. And to top it all off, the Iceberg's were awarded the coveted Victoria Cup.

"In the last 27 games of a 50 game regular season, the Icebergs dropped only two games to the Wooster Oilers," stated John Keightley, President and founder of Harrington College. "We were the favorites going into this playoff showcase, but hockey is played on the ice and no one really knew what to expect."  

Mario Richer, Head Coach of the Junior Icebergs new what to expect. A ten-year veteran coach of the Quebec Junior Major Hockey league, coach Richer took over the reigns from General Manager Dan D'Astoli in early December and never looked back. "I tried to hire Mario for the Junior Head Coach position in August after witnessing the fine work he did for us in one of our international camps in Japan, but he was committed to a teaching position with a high school," said D'Astoli. "When I got wind that he was not very satisfied with his teaching position and wanted to return to coaching, I didn't think twice about bringing him on board." Announced D'Astoli, now full-time Program Director for HCC:  "I have been coaching for close to 20 years and I witnessed a master at work in Mario Richer. The way he prepared his players technically, tactically, mentally and nutritionally is the best I have ever seen. He was ready for these playoffs as were each and every player on his squad."

HCC's program is a player development based program where winning championships is not the primary concern. "We are a hockey specific training academy," explained Keightley, "we train our players on ice and off ice 4 to 6 days per week for 10 months, all while providing them with a private education. Helping these players get to the next level is our primary focus, and close to a dozen of our Junior players have received invitations to attend Junior Major camps as well as NCAA Division One and Division Three Universities. The fact that we captured these titles is a reflection of the fine work our coaching staff and instructors have done all year. If anyone watched the games, which were broadcasted live on the internet, they saw how our coach rolled the lines and ensured that every player on the bench got his fair share of ice time even in the playoffs."

Harrington won it's opening playoff game 7-1 vs the New Jersey Icehoppers and then skated past the Deleware Thunder in a 5-1 contest, they finished the round robin edging the South Jersey Raptors by a score of 2-1 for a birth in the semi final.   There the Iceberg's faced the host team the Wooster Oilers and it took Michel Querry's (New Brunswick, Canada)   overtime goal to decide the winner. The final featured a rematch between the South Jersey Raptors and the Icebergs Troy Barrs ( Ontario, Canada) was the hero this time scoring 2 goals including the game winner in a 4-2 Harrington Victory. The iceberg's were the only undefeated team in this playoff showcase and now return home to Harrington as the undisputed   America East Hockey League 2006-2007 Champions.

Tryouts
Harrington College Icebergs will be conducting tryouts for the 2007-2008 season, April 16, 2007. through May 31, 2007, for Peewee (born 1995-1996), Bantam (born 1993-1994), Midget (born 1991-1992) and Junior (born 1987-1990). For information visit www.harringtoncollege.ca or contact Dan D'Astoli dan@harringtoncollege.ca / 819-242-7472.

Dame Malka finds his destiny in the America East Hockey League

Former Lac St Louis Tiger Olivier Dame Malka receives League's Best Defenseman Award as he leads his team to America East Junior Playoff Championship.

Harrington, Quebec, Monday, March 26, 2007

It was mid-August when then 16-year-old Olivier Dame Malka, native of Pierrefonds and former Deux Rives and Lac St Louis Tiger defenseman, got the news he was not going to make the final roster of the Lac St Louis Midget AAA Lions." I was devastated," said a now less bitter Dame Malka "I thought I had a good camp with the Lions and when the coach said I wasn't what he was looking for, I wanted to quit hockey, period." Olivier recalls, "I remember telling my mom, that there was nothing more I could have done, it just wasn't my destiny to make the Lions."

Olivier received a few invitations to attend other Midget AAA tryouts and things just didn't work out. His fate changed when he received a call from Dan D'Astoli, Head Coach and General Manager of the America East Hockey League franchise the Harrington College Junior A Icebergs. " I always had a lot of respect for Dan and had heard a lot of great things about him from his former players, so I decided to give it one more try."

At 16, Dame Malka left home to chase his dream of a pro hockey future and pursue his education at Harrington College of Canada. "It was amazing. I was on the ice every day receiving instruction from former NHL veteran defensemen Bobby Dollas and Igor Kraftchuck, I had Dr. Gord Bloom working with the mental part of my game, Marc Ikin kept me in great shape with off-ice training, and then Mario Richer came in as Head Coach. It was a very tough but complete program."

Dame Malka was challenged early on by the older players in the league. "It was tough in the beginning, the other players were older and stronger but that made me push myself harder in games and practices, and I guess that got me the results I was looking for."

Results? That's an understatement. Olivier received player of the month honours twice in the season, he was the top scoring defensemen in the league, he received the league's Best Defenceman Award and helped lead his team to a first place regular season finish and the America East Hockey League Championship.

"When Olivier joined our club I knew he had huge potential," explained Dan D'Astoli, now full time Program Director of Harrington College. "He had something to prove and he did." D'Astoli has received several inquiries from Quebec Junior Major Teams in regards to Dame Malka. "We encourage our players to pursue hockey through college and NCAA," explained D'Astoli, "but this is what Olivier wants so were going to help him get there."

"I'm not sure where I will be next year," says Dame Malka, "I hope to get a chance with a Junior Major team but if it doesn't work out, I will be looking forward to playing for the Icebergs in the America East. This was a fantastic experience."

Iceberg Makes the Cut for Team Japan

Yuhei Shinohara has been selected to represent his country at the World Championship in April. Yuhei has been with the Icebergs for the past three seasons, and at 17 years old this will be his first selection to the national team.   Yuhei has been one of the top defencemen for the Icebergs and is hoping to make the jump to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League next year.  

Yuhei joins Takuma Kawai (2003-2007), Kazuma Iwamoto (2003-2005) and Kazumasa Sasaki (2006) as Icebergs who have played for team Japan.

As soon as the AEHL playoffs are completed Yuhei will join his countrymen in Japan for their national training camp.

Good luck Yuhei!

Iceberg Returns Home from World Championship

Martin Lee returns to Harrington after a successful tournament in China. The first-year Iceberg represented New Zealand for the U18 team. The team came in 4th out of 6, however Martin achieved personal success at the World Championship, finishing second overall in goal scoring.

With one game MVP and the most points for New Zealand, Martin Lee was the overall MVP for his country (www.iihf.com). Martin also represented his U20 team this past January at the World Junior Championships.

Martin will now re-join his teammates as the Icebergs practise and prepare for the league playoffs in Wooster, Ohio.

Junior Icebergs Clinch First Place in the AEHL

With 68 points and the season not finished for most teams, the Icebergs are untouchable in the regular season. The closest any other team can come to them would be 67 points for Cleveland, assuming the TDP win the remainder of their games.

This will be the first league championship for the Icebergs and everyone is proud of the accomplishment. Mr. Richer took over as head coach of the Icebergs midseason and the team under Mario went 22-2-1. The team broke 2 league records establishing the Icebergs as the team with the most consecutive wins and the longest unbeaten streak.

Mario Richer was previously an assistant coach with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles and the Gatineau Olympiques of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Mario has also been an assistant coach with the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) All-Stars and Team Canada. Mario has coached the likes of Sydney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) and Guillaume Latendresse (Montreal Canadiens). Mr. Richer possess a Bachelor of Science from the University of Sherbrooke.

The Icebergs are now preparing for the AEHL playoff tournament in Wooster, Ohio on March 23, 24 & 25. The Icebergs will have had plenty of rest leading up to the playoffs and with a complete, healthy roster for the first time this year, are the favorite going into the tournament.

December 2006

International Junior Showcase 2006

In November, Harrington College of Canada had their first annual Junior A Showcase featuring teams from the America East Hockey League and players from over 15 countries.

Each team played four games of two x 15 minute, one x 20 minute periods at the Kevin Lowe Pierre Page Arena in Lachute, Quebec and at the Gilles Lupien Arena in Brownsburg, Quebec.

Some of the top players and students from around the world participated in and displayed their skills and talent at the Junior A Tier 2 Level. Some of these players are 16-year-old future stars and others are junior veterans ready for the next level. Many players from our league have gone on to compete at various D 1 and D 3 schools while others are competing at the Junior Major level.

The games were attended by scouts from across Canada and the U.S.: Central Scouting (NHL), Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL), Lewiston MAINEiacs (QMJHL), Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL), Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL), Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL), St. John's Fog Devils (QMJHL), Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL) and Cornwall Colts (CJHL).

The scouts were very impressed with the level of play, comparing it to Junior A in Canada- Quebec Junior AAA and the CJHL Junior A Tier II. Many players where approached, especially from the QMJHL teams.

Take a look at the photo gallery.

November 2006

Thunder in Lachute

HARRINGTON ICEBERGS TAKE 2 OF 4 POINTS FROM FIRST PLACE TEAM

Harrington, Quebec - The Harrington Icebergs played two hard fought games this weekend to earn one victory and one loss against the America East Hockey League's leading team, The Delaware Thunder. Although Harrington dominated the ice in both games, each contest was settled by only one goal. Harrington controlled the puck for the majority of both games and out shot theirs opponent 33-28 on Saturday and 42-36 on Sunday. An undisciplined Harrington Iceberg team took a total of 51 penalties versus 26 by the Delaware Thunder over the weekend.  

On Saturday, 16 year old Troy Bars (Barre, Ontario) gave the Icebergs an early 1-0 lead at the 19:57 mark of the first period. With two Icebergs out with injuries, Bars was called up from the Icebergs Midget AAA squad and scored his first goal in Junior hockey. In front of the home crowd, Troy Bars scored his second goal of his junior career at 10:07 of the second period to make it 4-2 for the home team.   Five minutes late, Joshua Hasson for the Thunder made 4-3 and then within 25 seconds of the start of the third period Delaware's Chris Riggs scored his third goal of the night to tie the game. With ten minutes left in the third period, Harrington's assistant captain Karl Taylor (Windosr, Ontario) scored the game winner on a set-up from Yuhei Shinohara (Tomakomai, Japan) and Olivier Dame-Malka (Pierrefonds, Quebec). Three of the four Thunder goals where scored on the powerplay. Final score Harrington 5-Delaware 4.

Again in Sunday's game, penalties provided opportunity to the Delaware team.   Assitant Iceberg coach and former NHL player Igor Kravchuk said, "if we had been disciplined, Delaware would never have been in the game ... as most of our players are young, they have to learn how to play the physical game while controlling their emotions." The outcome of Sundays game was a 3-4 loss for the Icebrgs. Also called up for the weekend was Jean-Philipe Leone (Pine Hill, Quebec). JP played for the Junior Icebergs last year but was unable to crack the line-up this year.

October 2006

New Jersey Raptors visit Lachute

HARRINGTON ICEBERGS TAKE 3 OF 4 POINTS FROM SOUTH JERSEY TEAM

Harrington, Que., Wednesday, October 23, 2006 - The Harrington Icebergs played back to back games this weekend against the South Jersey Raptors. The Icebergs played Saturdays match to a draw in front of 451 spectators; The game ended 5-5. The Harrington Icebergs played their 3 rd and 4 th home game this weekend in Lachute at the Kevin Lowe Pierre Page arena. Having dropped their first encounter to the second place South Jersey team at the Columbus day showcase in New Hampshire in early October, The Icebergs were not going to disappoint their home crowd this past weekend.

With exciting back and fourth action, Junior Hockey is alive and well and proved very entertaining in front of a home crowd for Harrington. Austria's Vincenz Peters led the charge for the Bergs with his first hat-trick of the season. "Vince is on fire!" claimed Dan D'Astoli, Head Coach and General Manager of the Icebergs. "He has consistently been one of our most exciting players so far this season and he is only 16 years old playing against some 20 year olds." This is Peters second season with the Icebergs, last year being the youngest player in the America East Hockey League at 15 years old.

With less then 2 minutes to go in the third period and the score tied at 4, South Jerseys Mike Longo gets his second of the night to take the lead in what was thought to be the game winner for the Raptors. However, the Icebergs were not going to disappoint their fans. "This team does not know what it means to give up," explained team captain Hiroki Iwasaki, a three year veteran of the program. With less then a minute to go, on a beautiful pass from Florida's Robert Buckland, Christopher Summers, a 16 year old rookie also from Austria, finds himself on a breakaway and beats the Raptor's goalie Brian Pacek to tie the game at 5 a piece.

Sunday's afternoon game proved to be just as exciting and entertaining as Saturday's encounter. With the home team taking an early 2-0 lead in the first period on 2 goals by New Brunswick native Doug Doyle, many on lookers thought this was going to be smooth sailing. "The coach reminded us at the first intermission that there were 2 more periods to play and that South Jersey would not fold that easily," said Doyle after the game. "We had to keep working and leave it all on the ice for 2 more periods." The coach was right. South Jersey scored 4 second period goals while the Icebergs managed to get another 2 on efforts by Vince Peters and Hiroki Iwasaki. The score was tied at 4 after 2 periods of play. "During the second intermission, Coach Dan told us to be who we are. A team that has lost 1 game in the last 6 outings," said Karl Taylor assistant captain form Windsor Ontario. The iceberg's responded with 3 goal third period effort by American, Corey Dizaglio to win the game by a score of 7-6.

"Corey scored 60 goals last year in the Eastern Junior Hockey League and it doesn't surprise me one bit how he responded to adversity this Sunday," said Head Coach D'Astoli. "Corey and Vince Peters are 2 of the most exciting players in the league and they come to play, every game." Hiroki Iwasaki and Dougg Doyle also contributed with a 4 point game and Vince Peters and Robert Serafini each earned 3 points four there efforts. "It's not about our personal stats," said 19 year old Robert Serafini. "We are here to make a proud and successful representation of our team and program and we all play a role in it's success. I'm thrilled that I was able to help but I'm more thrilled for the points the team got this weekend then for what I accomplished as an individual."

The Harrington Icebergs travel this coming weekend to New Hampshire to play the Exeter Seawolves and will be back at home in Lachute, on Saturday November 4 th and Sunday November 5 th as they host the first place Delaware Thunder who have only lost 2 games thus far this season (one of those to the Icebergs).   The Icebergs play in the America East Hockey League, a Junior Tier II league that is based in US. The Icebergs travel as far away as Delaware and Ohio to play weekend series. All of the Icebergs players attend Harrington College of Canada and are in grade 9 through grade 13. The College has elite student athletes from nine countries around the world focusing on academics and the sport of hockey in grade seven though grade thirteen. Local resident Gilbert Landry commented, "I was quite surprised by the level of play. I did not know what to expect when I came to the game today and I was pleasantly surprised. I would say that the league [America East Hockey] is a step faster than the Junior A Tier II hockey played in Hawkesburry [CJHL]. I believe the players are more skilled and better disciplined that in the Quebec Junior AAA league."

September 2006

Iceberg Traded to the Voltigeurs

Things are looking good for Takuma Kawai, former Harrington College Icebergs player. The 18-year-old Takuma was traded by the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles to the Drummondville Voltigeurs for their 7th round selection draft, and has been attending camp since August 13. With his performance so far he has been gaining some well-earned attention, and, if he makes the cut, he will be the first ever Japanese-born and raised hockey player to play in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Born in Kushiro, Japan in 1988, Takuma moved to Canada in 2003, with the goal of eventually making it to the NHL. He attended Harrington College of Canada (HCC), a private hockey school, where the primary focus is on skills development and preparing players for the next level.

If things continue to go well for Takuma, we will see him play in the first regular season game on September 15, when the Voltigeurs play Patrick Roy's Canadian National Championship Memorial Cup winners the Quebec Ramparts.

July 2006

Iceberg Signs on With a Quebec Major Junior Team

Takuma Kawai, a key player in Junior A, Tier II with the Harrington College Icebergs in 2005-2006, will be the first ever Japanese born and raised hockey player to play in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).Takuma has signed with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles for the 2006-2007 season, and will be eligible for the 2007 NHL draft next June.

Born in Kushiro, Japan in 1988, Takuma moved to Canada in 2003, with the goal of eventually making it to the NHL. He attended Harrington College of Canada (HCC), a private hockey school, where the primary focus is on skills development and preparing players for the QMJHL.

The QMJHL is one of 3 divisions of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), which is by far the largest producer of NHL hockey players in the world. QMJHL has produced NHL players like Mario Lemieux, Sydney Crosby, Vincent Lecavallier, Patrick Roy, Luc Robitaille and Guy Lafleur, among many others.

West Island Icebergs Advance to Final
Local Kids Combine with International Stars to reach final

March 23rd, 2006, Pierrefonds, Quebec - The West Island Icebergs of the America East Hockey League, Junior "A", Tier II, have advanced to the Victors Cup final after eliminating the Exeter Sea wolves two games to none in their best of three semi-finals this past weekend in Exeter, New Hampshire.

The Icebergs were led by the performance of David Hurley (Ile Bizard), Chris Oles (Beaconsfield), Takuma Kawai (Kirkland) and a selection of international stars including Mickael Gasnier ( starting goaltender for the under 20 French National team) who posted a shut out to eliminate the Sea wolves in game two of the series.

Kawai, who moved to Kirkland three seasons ago and played Midget AA for two years with the Lakeshore Panthers, has performed the duties of captain and exemplified the leadership that Coach Dan D'Astoli has been looking for with his Icebergs team. "Takuma is a coach's dream player. A Bob Gainey type if you will," D'Astoli says. "You give him a job to do, at either end of the rink, and it gets done and it gets done with an impact!

Chris Oles, another former Lakeshore Panther, contribute 2 goals and an assist in game one as the Icebergs routed the Sea Wolves. Other scorers were Sochiro Omi with 2 goals, David Hurley with a goal, Francois Lauzon (Verdun) a goal and Brian Henderson also had a goal.

Game two saw Brian Henderson contribute two markers, Jean Phillip Leone (Brossard) a goal and Francois Lauzon with a goal as well. Chris Oles contributed two assists.

The Icebergs will play games 1 and 2 of the best of five final in Springfield. Game 3 will be played in Lachute at the Pierre Page-Kevin Lowe Ice Arena March 31 at 9:00 pm and, if necessary, the Icebergs will host the Springfield Pics Saturday April 1 st, also in Lachute at 6:00 p.m.

Springfield Pics finished the regular season in first place 13 points ahead of the West Island Icebergs and feature Mike Olson (16 goals, 32 assists, 48 points), Ryan Garrow (24 goals, 22 assists for 46 points) and Keith Dube (16 goals, 29 assists, 45 points) who were the number 3, 4 and 5 scorers in the regular season.

Sochiro Omi, of the Icebergs, led the AEHL in goal scoring with 28 goals in 28 games. He was also the Icebergs leading point getter with 42 points. Chris Oles was right behind with 41 points, 19 goals and 22 assists.

Mickeal Gasnier who represented France in the Under 20 World Junior Tournament, finished second in goals against average   behind Tomas Greiss of Germany. In the AEHL regular season, second in goals against average behind   Daniel Nani of the Exeter Sea Wolves. Nani, will tend goal for Merrimack Warrriors of Hockey East (NCAA Division I).

"I think Mickael had something to prove after Nani beat him out of top ranking by half a goal," says D'Astoli. "I mean he was absolutely superb in the two games versus Exeter and that was a head to head battle between the two top goalies. I am sure Mickael has some satisfaction with his performance."

"You know", D'Astoli went on to say, "it is a tribute to the Lac St. Louis hockey region, that they have developed such a wide talent base that we can combine with international players like Mickael, Takuma, Soichiro and Kazumasa Sasaki and compete in an American Junior A league and have these players scouted by NCAA schools while making strong contributions at this level."