Patriots Challenge 2012

By Kylie Penticost

Full gallery from the 2012 Patriots Challenge

The Patriots Challenge is a Tier I AAA youth hockey tournament dedicated to honoring the heroes and victims of 9/11, while raising money for soldiers overseas. This annual three-day event is host to more than 100 hockey players, with teams representing Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Connecticut. Created in September 2011, the tournament was a special way to mark the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy.

With the 2nd annual Patriots Challenge taking place this past weekend, at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., the tournament proved to be a growing success, especially for the ‘99 Pittsburgh Penguins Elite team presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods: they are now back-to-back champions.

According to the ‘99 Penguins Elite Head Coach Kevin Quinn, “This is so much more than a hockey tournament for our team. Our team was able to help Wounded Warrior Project and visit Ground Zero, which was really special for us. The competition on the ice is secondary; the driving force behind this event is raising money for troops overseas and remembering the victims.”

Ryan Haag led the way for the Penguins scoring nine goals, while Liam Walsh recorded 10 points and Cole Edgerton put up eight points.

Scoring Recap

Friday, September 7, 2012

Team Maryland	1	vs.	NJ Rockets	5
Connecticut Wolfpack	1	vs.	Pittsburgh Penguins Elite	5
NJ Rockets	1	vs.	Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks	5

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Team Maryland	2	vs.	Connecticut Wolfpack	2
Pittsburgh Penguins Elite	11	vs.	Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks	3
Connecticut Wolfpack	2	vs.	NJ Rockets	0
Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks	5	vs.	Team Maryland	2
NJ Rockets	0	vs.	Pittsburgh Penguins Elite	3

Sunday September 9, 2012

Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks	L	vs.	Connecticut Wolfpack	W
Pittsburgh Penguins Elite	8	vs.	Team Maryland	3

Championship Game

Pittsburgh Penguins Elite

6

vs.

Connecticut Wolfpack

2