THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 2023. PAGE 9.
Sports OWHA schedules released for Huron Heat By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen A bit of play has continued for several Huron Heat teams in recent days as they work towards the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association (OWHA) Championships in the Toronto area next weekend. On the weekend of April 14-16, the U11 B, U11 C, U13 C, U18 BB and U9 B Huron Heat teams will be heading to provincial tournaments
and some of the schedules are already set. On April 14, the U11 C Heat team will open its tournament with a game against the Woodstock Wildcats, followed by another later that day against the Cold Creek Comets. The U13 C Heat will first play the Kanata Rangers and then the Chatham Outlaws, while the U18 BB Heat will play the Orangeville Tigers and then the Norfolk Hericanes.
The next day, April 15, the U11 C Heat will play the Kemptville Storm, while the U13 C Heat will play the Woodstock Wildcats and the U18 BB Heat will play the Napanee Crunch. If they’re successful, play will continue into Sunday as teams from all over Ontario vie to be the last team standing. On April 6, the U13 C Heat will play the Upper Maitland Mustangs on the road in an exhibition game, while the U18 BB Heat will also
Fischer proud of U15 squad
play an exhibition game on the road, against the South Huron Sabres. This weekend, the U13 B Heat will head to Brampton for the Canadettes’ annual Easter Tournament. They’ll open with games against the Lucan Irish and the Mississauga Hurricanes on April 7 and then play the Georgina Golden Hawks on April 8. On April 2, the U11 C Heat played the Lambeth Lancers on the road, but a score was unavailable for that game, while the U11 B Heat played to a scoreless tie in an exhibition game in London against the Devilettes. On April 1, the U9 HL Black Heat lost their Western Ontario Girls’ Hockey League (WOGHL) Championship tournament game against the St. Thomas Panthers by a score of 5-2, followed by another tournament loss to the South Huron Sabres by a score of 1-0, while the U9 HL White team lost to the North Middlesex Junior Stars in their WOGHL Championship tournament game by a score of 3-1. Also that day, the U13 C Heat lost
their road playoff game against the North Middlesex Junior Stars by a score of 5-3. The U15 C Heat lost their playoff game with the Woodstock Wildcats in Komoka by a score of 3-0, while the U11 B team beat the London Devilettes in Hensall by a score of 1-0. The previous day, March 31, the U9 HL White team won its first two tournament games, beating the St. Marys Rock by a score of 2-1 and the Bluewater Hawks by a score of 2-0, while the U9 HL Black team opened its tournament with a 5-1 win over the Lucan Irish. On March 30, the U13 B Heat won its exhibition game in Ripley with the Lucknow/Wingham 86ers by a score of 3-1. On April 4, the U9 B and U18 BB Heat teams played exhibition games with the North Middlesex Junior Stars and the South Huron Sabres, respectively, in Seaforth, but scores were unavailable at press time. After the OWHA Provincial Championships, try-outs begin for a number of Heat teams in Goderich to be held through April.
On their way
The Blyth Brussels U15 Rep Crusaders earned a win over the Norwood Hornets in Barrie in their round-robin, above, but would fall to the Ilderton Jets in the quarterfinal of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association Championship after three overtime periods and a shootout. (Courtesy photo)
Continued from page 1 both Brussels and Blyth, was fantastic leading up to the tournament, he said, and he could see the players’ elevate their level of play and excitement when in front of a home crowd. So, when the team travelled to Barrie for the year-end tournament, a change from home games in previous years since the beginning
of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said it wasn’t the same as playing in front of home fans, though those who did make the trip are to be commended for their outstanding support. He said the change in format, leading up to a year-end, localized tournament keeps teams playing meaningful hockey for the entirety of the season, but what’s lost is
playing OMHA Championship games in front of an arena full of home-town fans. “You always want to be able to fill your barn,” Fischer said. It’s hard to put into words how hard it was for the team, the coaches and the parents to lose in a shootout after a season of so much hard work, but he said it truly is heartbreaking.
Playoff series goes the distance Continued from page 8 was called for tripping at 3:12 of the third period, followed by a holding call against Wingham’s Kyle Stanbury and a boarding call against Josh Pham of the Ironmen, at 3:36 and 8:54 of the third period, respectively. Mount Forest would then trounce the Ironmen in game six of the series on April 1 in Wingham, by a score of 6-1. Brody Leblanc of the Patriots scored his eighth goal of the playoffs at 19:15 of the first period to open the scoring, assisted by Elijah Brahaney and Dylan Szymanowski. There were no goals in the second period. Wingham’s Dawson Fahrer would even the score at 4:27 of the third period with an unassisted goal, the team’s only goal of the game. After that, the Patriots would score five straight goals: Austin
Griffin at 5:52, assisted by Jared Rowe and Ben Tenhag; Brody Leblanc at 7:21, a shorthanded goal, assisted by Elijah Brahaney; Dylan Szymanowski at 12:59, assisted by Kyle Detweiler and Brody Leblanc; Bryan Richardson at 18:12, a power play goal, assisted by Kyle Detweiler and Charlie Mckenzie, and Matt McLellan one second later at 18:13, assisted by Aaron McGuirk and Austin Griffin on the power play. Vance Meyer earned the win in the Patriots’ net, stopping 26 of the 27 shots he faced, while Garrett Golley was branded with the loss, stopping 32 of 38 shots. Matt Tolton of the Ironmen was called for cross-checking at 4:33 of the first period, followed by Riley Torrie of the Patriots being called for interference and slashing at 17:02 and 19:51 of the first period, respectively. Mount Forest’s Charlie Mckenzie
was called for cross-checking at 3:41 of the second period, followed by a head contact penalty called against Wingham’s Jonah Burley at 6:29. Mount Forest’s Cameron Lytle was also called for crosschecking at 11:03 of the period, followed by an interference call against Matt Tolton of the Ironmen at 13:02, a charging penalty called against Mount Forest’s Elijah Brahaney at 17:31 and an interference penalty against Matt Tolton of Wingham at 19:36 of the period. Charlie Mckenzie of the Patriots was called for cross-checking at 6:55 of the third period, followed by a slashing infraction called against Wingham’s Matt Tolton at 14:37. Josh Pham of the Ironmen was assessed two head contact penalties at 15:27 of the period, followed by Wingham goaltender Garrett Golley being called for slashing at 17:01 of the final frame.
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