BY RAFFY BOUDJIKANIAN

raffy.boudjikanian@transcontinental.ca

At the provincial midget level, the Sun Youth Hornets found themselves at the receiving end of a stinging loss on Sunday, with the local North Shore Mustangs galloping to a 28-21 victory.

"We had gotten very close the last couple of years but didn't get the championship, so this was a big deal for us," said the team's head coach Justin McHugh, who praised the Mustangs for their teamwork and coordination. McHugh said that both groups had done very well during the season and definitely deserved to be running for the championship.

According to McHugh, this was the 24th time that the Mustangs have won the championship since 1964.

McHugh was also thrilled that all five North Shore teams claimed championships at the provincial level this weekend. "All those teams are feeding us at the Midget level," he said, so that put him in a particularly good spot for the years ahead.

A much wider victory was scored by the bantam North Shore Lions, who crushed the La Prairie Diableaux with a 51-7 win. This was the fourth straight championship win for the Lions, said assistant head coach David St-James. "I think (head coach) Jason Jourdenais and (defence co-ordinator) Jim Aiken should really be praised for their efforts," St-James said.

Star player and MVP Simon Lacroix also did well. "He caught three passes for touchdowns," St-James said.

The Ile Bizard Vikings, the Westpark Steelers and the Alexander Park Roughriders also won championships this weekend, at the atom, mosquito and peewee levels respectively.