Exeter, NH - The Seacoast Performance Academy (SPA) 2008 team rang in the New Year in Coral Springs, Florida, competing in the first ever Champions League Hockey Tournament.  The event, hosted by World Hockey Group at the Florida Panthers practice facility, had 10 of the top teams in the world, including some from Finland, Sweden,  Slovakia, and Kazakhstan.

Head Coach John St. Pierre on the tournament: "Our Seacoast Performance Academy team had an incredible week at the '08 Champions League event.  Our team's performance against the top teams in the world, combined with the incredible international camaraderie with the other teams, players, and coaches, created an experience not to be forgotten."

The 2008 team opened up against Jarved Hockey (Sweden) and started fast, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first period.  SPA went on to win the game 6-2. Danick St. Pierre (#10) led the way with 3 points and Tristen Leck (#31 ) stopped 25 of 27 shots.

With a 2-0-1 record in pool play, SPA then faced the #1 ranked team in the country, Windy City Storm (Chicago, IL).  A back and forth 1st period ended with the Storm having a 3-2 lead over SPA.  In the second period, the '08 boys picked up goals from Jameson Glance (#18 ) and Garrit Turcotte (#63 ) to take a 4-3 lead.  Kamden Jackson (#32 ) ended the game by stopping 38 of 41 shots to secure the win.

After grabbing a 7-4 win over the Yale Jr. Bulldogs (New Haven, CT), the Seacoast Performance Academy would end pool play with a 4-0-1 record, which placed them as the #2 seed in the playoff bracket and a  date with Jarved Hockey (Sweden) again.  SPA would go on to win 2-1 and set up a semifinal match with the L.A. Jr. Kings (Los Angeles, California).

The Jr. Kings would pick up a 7-3 win and send SPA to the bronze medal game where they would once again face the Windy City Storm.  Seacoast jumped out to a 2-0 lead and ended the first period up 3-2.  In the second, the Storm took a 4-3 lead and didn't look back.  SPA would end up finishing the tournament in 4th place.

St. Pierre added: "Over the past couple of years, our players at SPA have focused daily on their training on and off the ice. This event proved that our long term development model is working.  The team competed against the top teams in the world and the US, and ended up the week with a 6-2-0-1 record, leading the pack through round robin play."

Jamie Glance (#18 ), Ben Clary (#71 ), and Garrit Turcotte (#63 ) all finished in the top 10  in points for the preliminary round.