Lake Erie Panthers 14U Capture Winterhurst Presidents Day Cup Championship

The Lake Erie Panthers 14U Bantam team brought home the Red Division championship at the Winterhurst Presidents Day Tournament this past weekend in Lakewood, Ohio, capping off a hard-fought five-game run with a convincing 7–2 victory in the title game.

From the first puck drop on Friday Night to the championship final on Monday afternoon, this group showed exactly what Panthers hockey is about. Strong defense first. Smart transition play. Competing for every puck. Playing for each other.

The team battled through a long weekend of hockey with grit and determination, even overcoming some adversity late in the championship game when two sticks broke during key shifts. Instead of panicking, they stayed composed, trusted their system, and kept pushing the pace until the final horn.

As a coaching staff, we were proud not just of the win, but of how the team played. The effort level, the communication on the ice, the support on the bench, and the discipline in our zone defense and forecheck showed how much these players have grown this season.

This tournament win is a reflection of the character we try to build in the Lake Erie Panthers program. Character first. Results will follow. This group showed leadership, accountability, and a team-first mindset all weekend long.

We also want to give a special shoutout to Caroline and her mom for making the long drives back and forth between Erie and Lakewood throughout the weekend so she could play as many games as possible. That commitment and sacrifice helped our team in a big way and represents the dedication our Panthers families bring every season.

Thank you to the Winterhurst staff for hosting a great tournament, to our parents for the nonstop support in the stands, and to the players for representing the Panthers organization with pride.

Congratulations to our 14U Bantam Panthers. Winterhurst Presidents Day Cup Champions.