The mindset has changed for members of the St. Louis Blues Bantam AAA hockey team from their first appearance in the Port Huron Silver Stick Tournament.
The Blues moved into the quarterfinals late Saturday with a
2-0 pool-play victory earlier in the day against the Long Island Gulls at Glacier Pointe Ice Complex.
"We're here to win it," said Matthew Tkachuk, who accounted for both of the Blues' goals. "There's no other mindset with this team than that.
"This is a good team. We've picked up some good players this year that have made us even stronger."
The Blues, who are ranked
No. 1 in the country, went 4-0 in pool play and took a 40-3-4 record into the quarterfinal matchup with the Brampton (Ont.) Battalion. St. Louis was the winner of Pool D, while Brampton captured Pool B.
Tkachuk is the son of former NHL player Keith Tkachuk, who is an assistant coach on the team, and also coaches the St. Louis Blues 99s, which is ranked seventh in the nation. Brady Tkachuk is a forward on the
PeeWee squad.
Tkachuk starred in the NHL for the St. Louis Blues.
The semifinals in both the PeeWee and Bantam divisions are scheduled for today starting at 9 a.m.. The PeeWee title game is set for 2:30 p.m. followed by the Bantam finals at 4:30.
"Long Island was a good hockey team," Blues coach Jordan Janes said. "They were a fast and skilled team, like us.
"It was a good game. We needed a win or a tie to move on. A loss and we headed home.
"When you have a game like this, it's easy to get the players up for it. They want to play in these types of games."
After a scoreless first period, the Blues got on the scoreboard at 9:12 of the second period when Tkachuk flipped a shot over the shoulder of Long Island goalie Michael De Phillips.
Luke Kunin and Jake Henderson assisted on the goal.
St. Louis added an insurance goal at 6:24 of the third period as Tkachuk and Kunin worked a give-and-go play to perfection.
"We do that play a lot," Tkachuk said. "It's something we work all the time.
"We haven't played a fast team like that in some time. Some Canadian teams are bigger, but slower.
"That was fun out there. It was like an away game for us because of their crazy fans. They were loud."
Luke Opilka was in net for the Blues and made 25 saves. St. Louis finished with 29 shots on goal.
"Luke had a great game," Janes said. "With his play he calms down the other players.
"We pretty much rotate our goalies."
Zach Young is the other Blues' goaltender.
Tkachuk. who turned 14 last month, said the Blues are focused on winning the title after losing in the quarterfinals two years ago as PeeWees.
"We had a good team two years ago but unfortunately ran into the Toronto Marlies in the quarterfinals and got knocked out.
"About seven of us have been together since we were Squirts. We have added good players over the years."
Said Janes: "This team makes my job so easy. It's a great team in the locker room, a very mature team. They really respect the game."
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