Back to Back OMHA Bantam C Champions
The South Bruce Bantam Rep team captured back to back OMHA Bantam C Championships after defeating Lucan 3 games to 1.
The local lads finished their season in style winning game 4 by a score of 1-0 in Lucan on Tues. March 24th. All it took was a goal at the 4:06 minute mark of the second period and the rest is history.
With a strong contingent of South Bruce fans in the stands, the boys did not disappoint. This group of hockey players have won several close games this season with a flare for the dramatic, so why would they give their fans anything but a close game in a tight series to end the season.
Facing their toughest opponent of the year in the Lucan Irish who came in to the finals with only 4 losses on the season, the South Bruce boys dropped game #1 in the series by a score of 2-0, but battled back to win three straight games 2-1, 3-2 and 1-0 to clinch another OMHA Championship. To say that these boys have what it takes to get the job done is an understatement. All it took was a Jos Louis at the end of every game for the "hardest worker" award as a little incentive. Never wavering from their game plan, the boys persevered all season long through injuries and sickness. Four different players had broken bones this season and yet the team rolled along to a 44-9-3 record.
This year's version of the South Bruce Bantams have been flying under the radar and have quietly went about their business. With only 4 returning players, the boys had big skates to fill after last year's Bantam squad had a tremendous season. Not to be outdone, this year's group proved that they are for real as well, by winning back to back International Silver Stick and OMHA Championships.
As mentioned in previous articles, this group of Mildmay and Teeswater lads are a diverse group of hockey players that have come together to work towards one common goal. For five of the players (Carter Schaus, Jordan Borth, Austin McKeachnie, Kalen Cassidy and Brayden Fischer) it was their first taste of an OMHA Championship, while 5 players (Jeremiah Lemay, Trevor Fischer, Garret Kreager, Clayton Dietz and Ty Turnbull) now have 2 OMHA titles and three players (Curtis Ruetz, Kyle Durrer and Connor Borth) have 3 red hats. Rounding out the roster are 3 players (Zach Girdler, Caleb Tolton and Rhys Martin) who have won an impressive 4 OMHA Championships in five years.
A huge thank you to the families and fans of this great group of young men for your support throughout the year and Congratulations to the South Bruce Bantam Rep team on a fantastic season! The harder you work, the luckier you get!
The team would also like to congratulate the South Bruce Bantam AE team as they captured their OMHA Championship the night before in Tavistock. Way to go guys!
Pictured: back row (l-r): Asst. Coach Troy Fischer, Head Coach Ryan Martin, Garret Kreager, Ty Turnbull, Caleb Tolton, Jeremiah Lemay, Jordan Borth, Austin McKeachnie, Clayton Dietz, Trainer Scott Girdler, Manager Tyson Soers.
Middle row (l-r): Kyle Durrer, Curtis Ruetz, Connor Borth, Brayden Fischer, Rhys Martin, Kalen Cassidy, Trevor Fischer
Front row (l-r): Carter Schaus, Zach Girdler