Columbus Day Invitational Hershey Championship Recap
The Columbus Day Invitational, held in Hershey, PA, from October 12-14, 2024, brought together youth hockey teams across divisions from 8U to 18U. Each team competed fiercely to earn the championship title. Here’s a recap of the championship games in each division.
8U B Championship Recap
Potomac Patriots (3-0-0) faced off against Frederick Freeze-2 (2-1-0) in a highly anticipated 8U B division championship matchup.
10U A Championship Recap
The Palmyra Black Knights (Merrill) (5-1-0) captured the 10U A division title with a 6-0 victory over the Igloo Jaguars (5-1-0). The Black Knights set the tone early, scoring four goals in the first period and two more in the second. Despite strong efforts from the Jaguars, they were unable to find the back of the net, and Palmyra’s defense held strong to secure the shutout.
10U B Championship Recap
The Palmyra Black Knights (Stephenson) (4-1-0) claimed the 10U B championship with a 6-1 win over the NJ Colonials (Koze) (4-1-0). After a scoreless first period, the Black Knights struck twice in the second period and added four goals in the third to take control of the game. The Colonials managed one goal in the second period but couldn’t keep pace with Palmyra’s offense.
12U AA Championship Recap
The York Devils (2-2-0) earned a narrow 2-1 victory over the Royals (0-4-0) to win the 12U AA division championship. The game remained scoreless after the first period, but the Devils took a 1-0 lead in the second. Both teams exchanged goals in the third, but the Devils held on for the victory.
12U A Championship Recap
Flyers Youth (6-0-0) captured the 12U A division title with a 3-1 win over the PAL Blue Knights (4-2-0). Flyers Youth took control early, scoring two goals in the first period and one in the second. The Blue Knights managed a third-period goal, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Flyers’ solid defense and strong offensive performance.
12U B Championship Recap
The Palmyra Black Knights (Mullins) (6-0-0) secured the 12U B championship with a close 2-1 win over the Hamburg Hawks (4-2-0). The Black Knights took an early lead with a goal in the first period, but the Hawks responded in the second. Palmyra scored the game-winner in the third period, and their defense shut down the Hawks’ efforts to force overtime.
14U AA Championship Recap
The Jersey Shore Wildcats (3-2-0) claimed the 14U AA division championship with a thrilling 3-2 comeback win over the Palmyra Black Knights (4-1-0). The Black Knights took a 2-0 lead in the first period, but the Wildcats scored three unanswered goals in the second to secure the victory and the title.
14U A Championship Recap
In an all-Palmyra matchup, the Black Knights (13U) (5-1-0) defeated the Black Knights (Putt) (4-2-0) with a 3-2 win in the 14U A division. The Putt team scored first in the opening period, but the 13U Black Knights answered back in the second and third periods to edge out their clubmates and take home the championship.
14U B Championship Recap
The Grundy Senators (McDavid) (4-1-0) captured the 14U B division title with a 6-3 win over the York Devils (4-1-0). Both teams exchanged goals in the first period, but the Senators pulled away in the second with four goals. York tried to close the gap in the third, but Grundy’s lead proved too large to overcome.
18U A Championship Recap
The South Pittsburgh Rebellion (5-0-0) dominated the 18U A championship game with a 5-0 shutout over the Peconic Wildcats (3-2-0). The Rebellion took control early with a first-period goal and extended their lead with two more goals in each of the second and third periods. Their solid defensive play and relentless offensive pressure secured the championship title.
The Columbus Day Invitational in Hershey, PA, showcased the talent and determination of youth hockey players across all divisions. Each team brought their best effort, creating an exciting weekend of competitive hockey. Congratulations to all the champions and participants for their hard-fought performances and for making this tournament a memorable success.
