By Sylvain Lauwers
Special to The Review
The Eastern Ontario Cobras were well represented in both coaching and players, as Team Canada took home the gold medal in the 2012 Division at the 2022 Prospects by Sports Illustrated All Star Challenge in Toronto last weekend (July 16-17).
Wendover resident Karol Thibodeau was surprised when he was approached last December by Prospect Hockey to be the head coach of the 2012 age group CA Gold team group for a series of five games between Canadian and American teams.
“I didn’t apply for this,” Thibodeau commented. “Someone must have submitted my name.”
The coach with the Eastern Ontario Cobras organization said it was a privilege to be mentoring young Canadian players coming as far as from Vancouver for the summer competition.
“I have to thank the Eastern Ontario Cobras organization for their good program to develop future hockey stars – at every single game the Cobras’ players played an important role to lead Team Canada to the victory,” Thibodeau said.
Thibodeau’s CA Gold squad swept all five games they played in the 2012 division and won the gold medal on Sunday defeating the CA Black squad in the final by a 4-0 score.
Samuel Thibodeau, the son of Karol and Josée-Ann, won the best scorer award, as he completed the Sports Illustrated summer hockey competition with nine goals and five assists in the five games played.
Thibodeau said tournament organizers made the young players feel like true all-stars at the event, both on the ice and off. Organizers provided good hotels, food, and activities for the kids to ensure the experience of the tournament was a special one they would remember.
