This weekend the Potomac Patriots headed out to Pittsburgh for the second of three tournaments for the season. The Potomac Patriots participated in the My Hockey Productions Three Rivers Cup tournament. 

The first game of three regular seed games came Friday night at 9:55PM. The players and parents set out for Pittsburgh and the four plus hour ride Friday afternoon. Game one came vs the Amherst Knights. The game did not start out the way Patriots would have liked to trailing in the first period. Early in the second though the Patriots answered back with a great play by Ronin Hofmaster to find Chris Richardson all alone in front to tie it up at one! The third period was dominated heavily by the Patriots with some back and forth play. With a few minutes remaining on the clock captain Aidan Piertech scored the game winning goal to give the Patriots a 2-1 lead and eventually seal the deal. Goalie Michael Shelley stopped 14 of 15 shots and gave the Patriots their first win. 

The second and third games were played on Saturday, one game at 12PM and another 8:55PM. The Patriots played the Steel City Renegades, what turned out to be a special teams battle, the Patriots came away on top 4-2 with goals by Chris Richardson(2), Kyle Lutender, Cenzo Gllitone. The Patriots played their final seed game Saturday night in which they won 5-3. Going into the third period down 3-2 the Patriots were able to rally back to score three third period goals and clinch a championship berth.  

The final game and Championship game came Sunday afternoon at 12:10PM. After a quick turnaround the Patriots got ready for a do or die game. After beating the Amherst Knights in the first game they met once again in the Championship game. The Patriots came out flying scoring 4 first period goals, anchored by Chris Richardson's hattrick and Cenzo Gllitone breakaway goal. The fifth and sixth goal came in the second period, one by Ronin Hofmaster on the penalty kill and one by Nathan Clark with a tap in goal in front of the net. Connor Murphy held strong in net for the Patriots turning aside everything thrown his way, holding on for his first shutout of the season and a 6-0 Championship win for the Patriots. 

Championship game MVP was awarded Chris Richardson who sparked the Patriots offense with seven goals on the weekend. Other notable performances were Aidan Piertech who was the set up man to Richardson's success, Patriots defense led by Ethan Peterson, Aidan Murray, Tyler Gordon and Kyle Lutender. It was all hands on deck this week for the Patriots and their first tournament win at My Hockey Productions. Congrats to the Patriots players and coaches, and a thank you to the parents and family who come out to spend their weekends in freezing cold rinks to support their kids!