ESTEVAN - The Estevan Murray GM U9 Cubs are the Highway 39 League champions.
Murray GM defeated the Gilliss Casing U9 Cubs in the final of the year-end Whitecap Resources Highway 39 U9 League Championships, which were held on the weekend. The top eight teams played in the champions bracket in Estevan, and the bottom eight teams were in the consolation bracket in Weyburn. Games were played March 9 and 10.
Murray GM won their first two games of the tournament, and then they defeated the Estevan Gilliss Casing U9 Cubs 6-5 in the A event final, punching their ticket for the championship game.
Gilliss recovered to defeat Kingston Midstream 10-5 in the B final and advance to the championship game, which Murray GM won 5-3.
Murray GM and Gilliss were the top two teams in the league during the regular season as well, as each finished with 19 points.
Other Estevan teams in the A event were Sunset Embroidery, Top Torque and Whitecap Resources. Living Sky Diesel was in the consolation event in Weyburn. As part of the Estevan Minor Hockey Association's rebranding effort, all U9 teams had the Cubs name and a corporate sponsor.
Midale and one Weyburn team were in the A event as well.
The Estevan Minor Hockey Association was instrumental in creating the league, which is in its second season. It had seven teams from each of Estevan and Weyburn, as well as entries from Torquay, Midale, and Crosby, N.D. Torquay declined this season’s final.
