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Stars capture Alliance U18 AA-A title
Smart hat trick leads St. Thomas in series clinching 7-5 win over Woodstock
April 9, 2024
By Rob J. Ross
ST. THOMAS - Rhys Smart picked the right game to score his first playoff hat trick.
Smart wisely potted three goals to lead the St. Thomas Jr Stars to a 7-5 win over the Woodstock Navy Vets, Sunday in game four of the Alliance Bristol U18 AA-A final at the Joe.
St. Thomas takes the series, six points to two. Both teams move on to the Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF) U18 A championship, April 19-21 in Welland.
Smart opened the scoring and then scored twice in the third period , including potting the game winner.
"It feels great just put the puck in the net. We struggled the first few games to do that and today we did," said Smart. "It's amazing. I didn't expect this to happen."
The teams split the first two games of the six point series, each winning on home ice. In game three, Stars goalie Darren Hagerty stopped all shots, as the Jr Stars left Woodstock with a 3-0 shutout Saturday.
"We have a good group and it all came together in the right way," Stars' head coach Tyler Fines said. "It was a tight series. I didn't expect a football score today, but it was back and forth."
The Jr. Stars jumped out to a 3-0 first period lead, but the home side was hanging on 4-3, after two periods.
A power play goal during a five minute major gave the Stars a 5-3 advantage and seemingly momentum in the opening minute of the third period. But a giveaway led to a shorthanded goal against 15 seconds later.
"It could have went the other way, but we did what good teams do, we got the next one," Fines said. "Our best guys were the best guys. The guys have learned how to play under pressure . We were ready today."
Smart and Adam Hodgins put the Stars up 7-4, before Woodstock scored late.
Carter Ingram and Noah Cowan, also scored for St. Thomas, while Jamie DaSilva picked up four assists and Zander Battaglia, two.
"Secondary scoring was big. Our secondary scoring helped us throughout the series," Hodgins said. "(Defensively), just staying on them. They had one pretty strong line and we shut them down. We held them to two points."
Hodgins, Mason Cummings and Zach Tucker scored in a 3-2 game one win. DaSilva had the Stars' lone goal in the 3-1 game two loss.
Battaglia, Hodgins and team captain Adam Derganic scored in game three.
These Stars have become accustomed to winning.
In January, St. Thomas won the International Silver Stick U18 A tournament at Sarnia, going 5-1. At the qualifier in Petrolia a month earlier, the Stars had to rally from down 2-0 with six minutes remaining in the game for a must win. Next game, the Stars had to score nine goals and did it to advance.
"That was a tough one to win," Fines said. "That was a grind. But it taught us patience and how to sacrifice."
However, the Stars faced their shared of adversity early in the season.
"Guys with injuries and we struggled with line-up changes (but) we battled back to get everyone healthy. We had to struggle with losses during the season as well," said Derganic. "We kept working hard and persevering through all the stuff that we had early in in the season."
The Stars feature players from the St. Joseph's Rams, OFSAA AA boys hockey champions last month in Whitby, including Hodgins, Smart, Derganic, Chase Holder and goalie Callum Besley.
Four teams including Woodstock, will join St. Thomas in Welland.
"Two all-Ontario tournaments in one year is unbelievable. It's been a special year so far and hopefully we can keep it going," Derganic said.
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