Three Laval teams are playoff champions
The Laval minor league teams surprised everyone by winning three of four playoff series of the Montreal Metropolitan Hockey League. What's more, four local teams participated in the final.
The president of the Laval region's Hockey Development Committee Jean-Luc Péloquin was thrilled by the success of his teams. "This has never been seen in Laval! Although many were expecting the Bantam AA's to win, the other teams were definitely a surprise."
The pee-wee AA team Patriotes de Laval felt the glory of victory winning against the Étoiles de l'Est 5 to 4 in the final. Under coach Roberto Romano the team overtook the Seigneurs des Mille-Îles 1-0, Bourassa 4-2 and the Sélects du Nord 3 to 1. "The coaches compelted a colossal task. It's a team victory. All the players were used. The guys had confidence in their coaches," said Jean-Luc Péloquin.
Midget Espoir's outcome
The Patriotes de Laval accomplished the feat of doubling up on the Seigneurs des Mille-Îles 4 to 2 in the final of the midget Espoir category on March 30th at the Maurice Richard Arena.
Anthony Ponzo (2 goals), Sébastien Bergeron and Thomas Martin lead the winning attack. Goaltender Olivier Thibault also contributed to the Patriotes success.
Kelly Fournier's team showed strength of character. "These young 15 year old players didn't have an easy time. They had three coaches throughout the season. I tip my hat to them!" he said. "They regrouped this past weekend to elevate their game to another level. I started to realize see victory as a possibility when we won against the Royals from the West Island."
The midget Espoir did their best against the Conquérants des Basses-Laurentides winning 6 to 2, against the Pionniers de Launaudière 7-4 and against the West Island Royals 5 to 3 (semi-final). Note that the Patriotes came back from a 3-0 disadvantage against the West Island. "Derek Pimentel and Sébastien Bergeron were the shining stars for our team. We reversed our bad fortune.
Derek offered up one goal and three passes against the Royals. He's an excellent player."
Karvouniaris is impenetrable
The Patriotes de Laval's goalie Peter Karvouniaris was impenetrable in front of the net for the midget AA team. He allowed coach Guy Brière's team to savor a win of 2 to 1 in a shoot-out against the L'Intrépide de L'Outaouais, the best team in Quebec.
"Peter is a main compenant of our success. He made some great saves and was perfect in the shoot-out. We owe him a proud thank you," said Guy Brière.
Karvouniaris felt the glory of victory four times during the playoffs. The Patriotes eliminated the Conquérants des Basses-Laurentides, Bourassa and L'Intrépide de L'Outaouais (semi-final). "It's thanks to him that we won the Chateauguay tournament 1 to 0 against Suroît," said Brière.
Finally, Dominic Ravenda's team lost their chance to win the play-off championship in a 2-1 shoot-out against the Conquérants Est, in the bantam AA category.
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Steven Guilbeault - 
