The Toronto area is likely starting to feel like a home away from home for members of Team Pennsylvania. For the second time in two months, the team made the trip north for a tournament as they prepare for the Brick Invitational in July. This time, the North American Spring Showcase was the destination as teams from across the continent gathered for the annual event.

One of the reasons for competing in the tournament for Team Pennsylvania is to continue to grow as a team with the Brick Tournament on the horizon. With only one previous tournament and two practice weekends in their back pocket, Team PA enjoyed the opportunity to bond as a team as they prepare for bigger challenges ahead.

Team Pennsylvania was immediately put to the test when they arrived north of the border. Two games on the first day of action is always a challenge but you wouldn’t be able to tell from the early result as Team PA shutout Next Pro Reps 2-0 to open tournament play. Later that evening, another hard fought game resulted in an unfortunate 5-3 score line as Team Pennsylvania fell to Best of the Rest.

The next day, Team Pennsylvania was faced with another pair of tough matchups, this time against two teams that will also be heading to Edmonton for the Brick Tournament next month. The early match pitted Team PA against the Connecticut Jr. Rangers Brick team. In a result that demonstrates the fact that Team Pennsylvania will be ready for the Brick Invitational, the score of the game ended no different than it had started: even. A tie is never an exciting result but the 4-4 score line against the Connecticut Jr. Rangers shows the progress that the team has made. That evening, faced with a fourth game in two days, Team Pennsylvania was shutout by the hometown Toronto Bulldogs in a matchup that, unbeknownst at the time, would be revisited in the playoff round.

Following the preliminary round, Team Pennsylvania occupied the fourth slot in the standings in the 2008 Elite division. A playoff round matchup against Regional Express was the only thing that stood in their path to the semi-final and a rematch against the Toronto Bulldogs who would sit idle as they earned a first round bye.

Winning big games will be important at the Brick Tournament. A playoff game at the North American Spring Showcase is no exception. Team Pennsylvania took care of business in their matchup against Regional Express as they claimed victory by a 3-1 margin.

With little time to rest between games, Team Pennsylvania was on a collision course with the rested Toronto Bulldogs in the semi-final. Once again, the Bulldogs demonstrated that they are an exceptional team as they defeated Team PA in the semis before advancing to claim the trophy over the Connecticut Junior Rangers in the championship game.

Team Pennsylvania should be proud of their performance at the North American Spring Showcase as they won two of their preliminary games, tied the eventual runners up and won a playoff matchup. The team also got a taste of what the level of competition will be in Edmonton. All considered, it was a successful weekend in Toronto as Team Pennsylvania has much to be excited about as the Brick Tournament nears.