Cycs Capture OMHA Bantam B Championship, News, Bantam Rep, U15, 2011-2012 (Listowel Minor Hockey Association)

After winning two games in Port Colborne (both 3-2) and tying there previous meeting in Listowel the local lads were looking to end the series on home ice Sunday afternoon. Both teams had some early chances but it would be the Sailors who would hit the sheet 1^st mid-way through the 1^st period. As they have done all year the local lads refused to quite. Late in the period Cole Dannemann’s tenacious fore-checking resulted in a turnover which he quickly fed to Riley Thompson who potted the Cycs 1^st goal. In the 2^nd period the momentum started to swing the Cycs way and Broedy Karelse’s power-play goal would give them the 2-1 lead (Dannemann & Drew McKee assisting). Riley Conner’s blast a minute or so later would push the lead to 2 goals (Bryce Fletcher assisting), then Karelse’s 2^nd power-play goal of the period would make it 4-1 (Keaton Willis assisting). In the 3^rd the “team defense” limited Port Colborne scoring chances but when called upon Steve Gottfried stood tall in the Listowel net. Late in the period Karelse would complete the hat-trick tucking room a Conners rebound, then for good measure Thompson would convert the 2 on 1 rush (Karelse, Dannemann assisting). With the 6-1 victory the bantam Cycs captured the series 6 points to 1, giving them the A.A. Ash Morrison Trophy awared to the OMHA Bantam B Champions.

The series started in Port Colborne a week earlier on an early Friday evening game. Both teams seemed a little tentative but Caleb Warren would get the Cycs on the board in the 1^st with a wicked short side wrist shot. The Sailors would tie the game in the 2^nd but Conners would chip home a rebound restoring the 1 goal lead (Warren, McKee assisting). Late in the 2^nd Willis’s point shot would find the back of the net, giving the visiting Cycs a 3-1 lead. The 3^rd period was a hard fought one with lots of action and good hits, Port Colborne would convert a long stretch pass late in the game to close the gap to one, but Gottfried would shut the door securing the 3-2 win.

Game 2 shifted back to Listowel and the tone was set early as Port Colborne was determined to play their more physical style of hockey. Their efforts paid off as they scored the 1^st goal late in the period, but undaunted the Cycs continued to battle. Brendan Hall got the Cycs on the board about a minute later (Warren assisting), then Matthew Koch would put the Cycs ahead in the last minute of the period (Dannemann assisting). Karelse’s would again stretch the lead to 2 goals early in the 2^nd as he blew by the Sailor defender then neatly tucked home the unassisted effort. Port Colborne refused to quite and their physical play paid dividends in the 2^nd period as they tallied twice to tie the game, then took the lead early in the 3^rd. As well the Cycs lost a key defensive component when Ben Rothwell went down to injury. Again the hometown lads showed great determination, which led to the tying goal as Conners tipped home the McKee shot mid-way through the period (Warren drawing the 2^nd assist). Both teams refused to quite but neither could notch the winner in the 3^rd period nor the 10 minute overtime.

With the tie the series now shifted to a point series (1^st to 6 points) and a game back in Port Colborne. The Cycs seemed more prepared for the real Sailor’s brand of hockey, and it showed as they exchanged check for check with the home team. Warren would again open the scoring on a nifty back-hand, then give the Cycs a 2 goal lead on a top-shelf wrister. As expected emotions increased as the game progressed, and in the 2^nd Port would close the gap. However late in the frame, Karelse would get tripped on a partial breakaway leading to a penalty shot, he made no mistake tucking home the nice deke, and restoring the 2 goal lead. Mid-way through the 3^rd the Sailors would take advantage on some Cycs misfortune, but that’s as close as they could get as the Cycs defensive core of McKee, Willis, Buchanan, Hall & Yungblut battled hard to preserve the 3-2 victory.

With the series victory the Bantam Cycs capped off a very successful season finishing with a 51-6-1 record, capturing the All-Ontario Championship, the Regional SilverStick title as well as tournament victories in both Tillsonburg & Elmvale. The team would like to thank everyone who supported them throughout this memorable season.

Team Pic... Front laying (L-R) Braeden Ellis, Steve Gottfried Middle Row (L-R) Caleb Warren, Drew McKee, Keaton Willis, Matthew Koch, Broedy Karelse, Ben Rothwell, Cole Dannemann, Owen Bender, Riley Thompson Back Row (L-R) Brendan Hall, Rob Hollinger (coach), Brian Tucker (trainer), Blake Buchanan, Parker Yungblut, Riley Conners, Bryce Fletcher, Larry Gordon (manager), Bruce Fitzgerald (coach), OMHA rep... absent Jerry Rozendal