WOODSTOCK — The Vermont state champion girls’ U-14 ice hockey team from the Middlebury Area Hockey Association had an impressive showing this past weekend at the New England Regional tournament in Woodstock.
 
The team went 3-0 in their initial tournament playdowns, beating elite teams from New Hampshire, Maine and Connecticut. This effort placed them as the No. 1 seed for their division in the semifinals. 
 
Unfortunately, the Tigers came up short in a 3-2 loss to the Nashua, N.H., team, and were eliminated from the tournament, thereby ending a remarkable and unprecedented season. Had the team come out on top of this tournament, they would have traveled to California for the U-14 national title tournament. 
Middlebury’s coaches were very proud of the team, saying, “Our girls fought an incredible fight this past weekend. To beat so many elite teams, teams that hold tryouts for dozens of skaters and select the best of them, it says so much for not only the quality of skaters that Middlebury produces, but the passion they have for the sport.”
 
The team finished with a record of 34-5-3, which included 19 shutouts. 
 
“These girls are a product of MAHA, the Middlebury youth hockey program that produces incredible competitors on the ice,” the coaches continued. “They were a joy to coach, and we look forward to following their careers.”