CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. -- The Florida Lady Vipers 14U and 19U teams advanced to nationals on Sunday morning at the USA Hockey Southeast District Championship. The event took place at the Florida Panthers IceDen in Coral Springs. 

After a 4-0 loss to the Northern Virginia (NOVA) Ice Dogs in the second 14U group game, the Lady Vipers defeated NOVA 4-2 for the championship and a trip to Burlington, Vermont, for Toyota USA Hockey National Championships on March 31 - April 4.

“It's great for the girls to have the opportunity to go up to New England and participate at this level,” Lady Vipers Director Pauline Ade said. “We can get it done at nationals with team chemistry.”

“The first time we played them, we had a lot of trouble with them getting through the middle of our zone a lot, but I was glad that our defense stepped up for me and cleared out the front of the net,” goalie Kat Hoppe said.

“It was a hard fought game and a team effort,” Lady Vipers 14U coach Joshua Hudanish said. “They came together as a team. As the score sheet shows, a lot of players contributed.”

19U Vipers Also Advance

The Lady Vipers' 19U team also punched its ticket to nationals on Sunday. Led by Katie Leffler, the team went 4-0-0 in the tournament with 19 goals scored. In the 19U championship game, the Lady Vipers defeated the Reston (Virginia) Raiders 2-0. Goalie Megan McRae had the shutout. 

“It takes everyone on and off the bench together to stay positive. We now have a great opportunity at nationals to showcase what we have in Florida,” Ade said. At nationals, the Lady Vipers 14U and 19U teams will each be one of 12 teams represented from across the country vying for the USA Hockey National Championship.

16U and Women’s Results

In the two-team 16U division, the NOVA Ice Dogs went 2-0-0 in a best-of-three series against the Carolina Lightning to earn a trip to nationals. Women's group B was won by the Carolina Aces and the C group was won by the Southern Thunder. 

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.