Stanstead Wins NAPHA Championship On Home Ice

The Stanstead Spartans captured the North American Prep Hockey Association (NAPHA) playoff championship for the second straight year on the weekend, blanking Northwood School 6-0 in the championship game, witnessed by a near capacity crowd at Pat Burns Arena.

Audrey-Anne Veillette scored just 22 seconds into the final and added another goal a little over a minute later, with team co-captain Stephanie Desjardins then giving Stanstead a 3-0 first period lead. Maude Poulin-Labelle’s beautiful shorthanded second period marker was followed by two goals in the third by Desjardins, her hat trick earning the sniper extraordinaire player-of-the-game honours.

Stanstead’s Alexie Guay was named MVP of the playoffs, which saw the undefeated regular season champion Spartans display their impressive speed, skill and team play in three victories leading up to the final; 6-0 over King’s-Edgehill School, 8-0 over Trinity College School and 3-2 over Nichols School. Goalies Kamille Longchamps and Shaylin McFarlane each posted a shutout while combining for another.

Stanstead’s overall season record now stands at 38 wins, five losses and two ties.

– Scott Coates