COYOTES WIN SECOND CONSECUTIVE TOURNAMENT

Coatbridge Coyotes player/coach Neil Dunn has hailed his players’team spirit after they claimed the Aberdeen North Stars’tournament for the second season running.

The Coatbridge ice-hockey side travelled north at the weekend after impressively reaching the semi-finals of the Auchenharvie Mariners’tournament last month.

The Time Capsule club triumphed 3-2 against the Edinburgh Knights in the final, after overcoming hosts North Stars 6-2 in the semis.

Delighted Dunn told the Advertiser: “Having won it last year we felt a bit of pressure on our shoulders heading up to compete again.

“A few of our players couldn’t make it and for some it was their first time in a new rink so it was a mixed team.

“The teams that play up in that area are very good and all attendees at the tournament play at a good level.

“To retain it this year is absolutely superb.

“Winning is the main thing but the way we performed to do so was really pleasing.

“We’ve only been going for about four years and we’ve already been promoted and won two tournaments.

“It’s fair to say we’ve come a long way in a short space of time.”

The Coyotes’tournament got off to a dodgy start as they were comfortably beaten 5-1 by Aberdeen North Stars.

But after that there was no looking back.

Dunn continued:“The journey up is three hours so during the first game our boys were quite tired and stiff.

“We were still shaking off the bus legs when we got into the rink and actually played well until the end of the second period.

“But we were still getting used to gelling as an unsettled team and they eventually overran us.

“We got into our flow after that and found our feet.

“We had guys filling in in defence and as hockey is a very tactical game that can be challenging but the guys did very well.

“We might not be the greatest players in Scotland but we have fantastic team spirit and work hard for each other.

“We’re all passionate and have a love of the game so the trophies mean a lot.

“The camaraderie is great during these tournaments because you’re meeting people with that same love of the game.”

Although team spirit was the biggest factor behind the Coyotes’triumph, Dunn added:“We had two players who really stood out this weekend.

“Tyler Spencer was exceptional after picking up aa lot of unlucky injuries.

“Jeff Sodiak acted as captain and did a brilliant job before he goes heads home to the USA in August.”