PORT HURON, Mich. -- The Ithaca Bears Pee Wee (ages 11 and 12) travel team reached the semifinals of the Pee Wee B tournament at the Silver Stick Hockey Tournament Finals last weekend in Port Huron, Mich. Ithaca had qualified for the event by winning the regional tournament in Rome in December.

"As far as Ithaca Youth Hockey goes, the Silver Stick Tournament is very big," Ithaca coach Tom Addy said. "We have six players who went last year, and the other players have heard stories either from siblings who have been or from their teammates, and they all want to go."

Ithaca lost its first game, 4-1, to the Dresden Junior Kings from Canada on Friday morning. Max Addy scored with assists from his brother, Cal, and Craig Esposito to give Ithaca a 1-0 lead, but Dresden rallied for the win.

The Bears bounced back with wins over two other Canadian teams Friday afternoon and Saturday morning.

Ithaca defeated the Oro Thunder, 2-1, when Max Addy scored with 17 seconds left, assisted by Esposito and Colby Gee. The Bears trailed 1-0 until Esposito scored in the second period with assists from Tyler St. Denis and Max Addy.

Cooper Belyea posted a shutout in net for Ithaca in a 2-0 win over the Kincardine Kinucks on Saturday morning. Esposito scored both goals and Max Addy, St. Denis and Gee each had an assist.

That win sent the Bears to the semifinals, where they lost, 5-2, to the Pembroke Kings of Ontario. Max Addy scored one goal and assisted St. Denis on the other goal.

"The entire experience is not only a learning experience. There's a heck of a lot more than just athletics going on," Tom Addy said. "They learn how to be congenial with other people. They learn a sense of commitment, dedication, hard work.

"Every single kid out there on our squad played to the maximum of their ability. They elevated their play; they just played their little hearts out."

Belyea and Gee were named to the All-Star team for Ithaca. Other team members include Douglas Fernandez, Correy Gibbons, Eli Gobrecht, Zach Hughes, Connor Lofgren, Kristian McGrath, Austin Romantic, Chris Tyroy and Tyler Trueman. Addy's assistant coaches are Brian Belyea and Clark Gee.