Polar Bears Win 1997-98 Midget National Championship

The Connecticut Polar Bears 19 and under (19U) Girl's Ice Hockey Team repeated as National Champions at the USA National Tournament held at the Disney Ice in Anaheim, CA from April 1-5, 1998. The Polar Bears defeated Team California 3-0 in the Tournament final played on Sunday night.

The Connecticut Polar Bears 15 and under (15U) Girl's Ice Hockey Team, attempting to gain their fourth straight National title, lost in the final game of their division to Chelmsford, MA 2-1.

The victory by the 19U team gave the Polar Bears their eighth National Championship in thirteen years of national competition. Polar Bears teams have finished runners-up six times at the National Tournament

In the 19U Division, the Polar Bears goalies, Tiffany Hayes (New Milford, CT), Katie Madouros (White Plains, NY) and Renee Kirnan (Windsor, CT) combined to allow only one goal in six games. Two weeks earlier, at the New England Regional Qualifying Tournament held in Maine, the goalies posted four consecutive shutouts against Maine, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Vermont to lead the team to the National Tournament. In the last ten games of the season, the goalies allowed only one goal.

In the final game against California, Whitney Talbot (New Canaan, CT) scored twice and Jackie Kryzak (Wallingford, CT) scored once.

19U Games and Scores

  • 4/2 Polar Bears-10-- Aspen, CO-0

  • 4/3 Polar Bears-2-- Michigan Metro Flyers-0

  • 4/4 Polar Bears-0-- Assabet Valley, MA 1

  • 4/4 Polar Bears-0-- Minnesota Thoroughbreds-0

  • 4/5 Polar Bears-1-- Lake Placid, NY-0 (Semifinal)

  • 4/5 Polar Bears-3-- Team California-0 (Final)

In the 15U division, Julie Chu (Fairfield, CT) was the Tournament's leading scorer. Goalies Megan Janeway (New Haven, CT) and Kate Kogut (Springfield, MA) registered strong games in net as they had at the New England Qualifying Tournament where the team had wins over Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island.

15U Games and Scores

  • 4/2 Polar Bears-1-- Minnesota Thoroughbreds-0

  • 4/3 Polar Bears-0-- Chelmsford, MA-2

  • 4/3 Polar Bears-6-- Minnesota Packers-0

  • 4/4 Polar Bears-3-- Michigan Metro Flyers-2

  • 4/5 Polar Bears-5-- Team Illinois-0 (Semifinal)

  • 4/5 Polar Bears-1-- Chelmsford, MA-2 (Final)