The Mite 10U Jr. Ducks out of Corona Inline were this year's winners of the Practice with the Ducks Essay Contest. The team will have the opportunity to skate with the Ducks players at an upcoming practice.

All hockey teams that play in a participating Future Ducks Rink Program rink were allowed to submit one essay per team explaining why they feel their team deserves this once in a lifetime opportunity. The essay could be about the team’s involvement in the community, how the team overcame adversity, or any special games they’ve played in or championships they’ve won.

The essay, submitted by captain Shane Vidger, tells of how the team overcame the odds to win the Junior Olympics in Philadelphia. In the finals, they won in overtime over a juggernaut Hawks team that had beaten the Jr. Ducks 8-0 earlier in the tournament. Of the tournament-winning goal in overtime, he writes: 

One of the Hawks players tried to advance the puck and Bailey was able to reach in and slap it away. As he drove toward the net on a breakway, everything seemed to freeze as we were all watching him and the Hawks goalie. We did it! We beat those guys. 

After our short celebration, I felt like a balloon had burst inside of me. I could breathe again. When our parents came down on the floor, mothers were crying and dad were hugging us, trying not to cry ...

... We did it. And like always, we did it together. I really love this team. I wish I could play with my friends forever.

The essay came with a "Miracle"-themed video narrated by Vidger detailing the team's journey through photographs and clips from the tournament.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO 


The Jr. Ducks will not only get to practice on the ice with the Anaheim Ducks players and coaching staff, they will also get to watch the Ducks actual practice that morning and meet the team in the locker room prior to taking the ice with them. In addition, they get tickets to an upcoming Ducks game.  

Here is the entire roster:

88           Parker Brakebill               F
15           Garrett Brown                   F
31           Brent Collins                    D
8              A.J De Los Reyes           F
40           David Everson                  D   “A”
16           Hayden Hoyt                     F
23           Kyle Rapozo                     F
9              Bailey Ridout                   D
20           Shane Vidger                   D   “A”
10           Chase Young                   F    “C”
10           Jordan Pallares              G

Manager: Jeanie Steele
Head Coach: Ben Barrett
Assistant Coach: Steven Boddy