2007s 16U Reunion Victory

The North Park ’07 team got together for a reunion at the Ocean State LobsterFest Tournament in Providence, RI June 16-18 winning the AAA 16U division in thrilling fashion.

A brief trip down memory lane: This team was headed to the New York State Tournament as the #1 seed in March 2020 before COVID derailed the high hopes for North Park’s first state championship. Over the years, the players went in many different directions – some stayed with North Park while others went to boarding school or new area teams. However, their deep love of the game and their teammates remained as well as the hockey skills and life lessons learned from the North Park coaches.

For the past several years, the parents and players of the ’07 Class discussed ways to reunite the team. Through the persistent efforts of Jeanine Salvatore and Miro Pasic, this dream became a reality in Providence.

The tournament started on Friday evening against the Empire Selects, a team that plays together all year round. Even though the boys hadn’t been on the ice together for three years, they rose to the occasion with a 2-1 win. The team continued to play well through the balance of the weekend earning a spot in the championship game. The teams’ old mix for success was on full display: great passing and unselfish play, tough defense and sticking up for every player.

The championship game, a rematch against the Empire Selects, was an up-tempo game from start to finish. The game remained tied 4-4 through regulation and a 5-minute overtime and proceeded to a shoot-out where North Park prevailed 2-1. In the jubilant locker room, the loudest shouts were “It’s great to be back!”

In typical North Park fashion, the parents had as much fun as the players. We hope to continue the winning tradition at future reunion tournaments. Great hockey, fantastic people, good times!

Please check out NorthPark07s on Instagram for additional highlights as well as the cool uniforms.