The Palm Beach Hawks youth travel hockey organization is heading to Canada to participate in the prestigious Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament during February.
The Hawks, based out of Palm Beach Skate Zone in Lake Worth, will be represented by their 12UA Orange team in Quebec. The 12U group, under the direction of coach Max Genest, previously won the Congressional Veterans Cup in Washington, D.C. and the Barn Burner Labor Day Tournament.
The 64th annual minor hockey tournament is sanctioned by Hockey Quebec and Hockey Canada. The 11-day event features 120 teams from 18 participating countries. The teams play at the Videotron Center and the Pavillon de la Jeunesse. They will have an opportunity to trade pins with participants from all over the world.
“It’s a really great experience for the team,” said Palm Beach Skate Zone General Manager Carlos Freitas. “It’s a very difficult tournament to get into. The kids get to play in the big arena. They make it a very big deal and spectacle. They put in a lot of effort and make it special. There are teams from all over the world. It’s a great bonding experience for the kids and a lot of fun.”
The event has featured at least 1,385 players who have since participated in the National Hockey League or the World Hockey Association. The participants at the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament have included former star players, including Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux as well as current NHL star Auston Matthews.
The Hawks youth hockey travel organization continues to have success on the ice during the 2023-24 season.
The Hawks 16UAA squad defeated the Geneva Cyclones 5-3 in the title contest during the Dallas Stars MLK Invitational in January at the Children’s Health Starcenter in Farmers Branch, Texas. The Hawks finished 3-1 in the tournament. They also previously won the Columbus Day Invitational in Hershey, Pennsylvania last October.
“It’s a core group and a majority of the kids have been inside the Hawks program for a long time,” said Josh Beatty, Hawks assistant coach and travel director. “The group of kids mesh well.”
The Hawks 10UAA team defeated the Oklahoma Jr. Warriors 6-5 in overtime to capture the championship in the Dallas Stars MLK Invitational. The Hawks bounced back from a loss earlier in the tournament and won the remainder of their games played in Texas.
The Hawks 10UAA squad, under the direction of coach David Israel, also earned a tournament title in Nashville last October and won the Greater Orlando Labor Day Tournament last September.
“We have had success in all the tournaments we have entered,” Israel said. “We look forward to battling at states.”
The Hawks 14UA Orange team captured the Greater Orlando Labor Day Tournament Championship last September. The 12UA team previously captured the tournament title at the Veteran’s Day On The Beach Tournament last November. The 10UA squad earned a tournament championship at the Niagara Pucktoberfest in Niagara Falls, New York last October.
The Hawks travel hockey program is led by directors Mimi Sellian and Josh Beatty. The Hawks are gearing up for the opportunity to compete for a state championship in their respective age groups.
