Jr. Stars explode in opening victory

  Seven goals carry St. Thomas in game one of their OMHA Atom A final

Saturday, March 17, 2018

By Rob J. Ross 

ST. THOMAS - It was wide open fire wagon hockey in game one of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) Atom A final.

A four goal explosion in the 10 minute first period, propelled the St. Thomas Jr. Stars to a 7-4 win, over the Innisfil Winterhawks, in the opening game of the six point series, at the Timken Centre.

"I didn't expect that in the final of the OMHA's. It happens. The boys pulled through and kept going. It was a good confidence boost for the first game," St. Thomas head coach Andrew Power said. "We have to tighten up defensively, but they don't ask how, they just ask how many at the end. We got a win and the boys are pumped about that."

Ryan Willmore had two goals and two assists, for St. Thomas, while AJ Power and Sam Taylor both scored twice and Liam Metzger had one. Taylor, Mathew Zylstra, Mason Burns, Kurtis Grant and Kaleb Levesque, each picked up an assist.

"We have depth so we can roll 15 guys all game long. We just keep going and going and we have secondary scoring," coach Power said. "Down the stretch we've had all of the lines and the D scoring and getting good goaltending."

To advance to this year's OMHA final, St. Thomas beat Riverside, Essex, Grimsby and Burlington. Over 14 playdown games, the Jr. Stars only lost once, the opening game to Essex. The Jr. Stars regrouped with convincing wins of 4-0, 6-2 and 3-1.

"We have speed. We have size. If we keep going and doing what we have been doing, we'll be fine," added coach Power. "We've had a lot of hockey in a couple of months and the guys have responded well. Everybody just picks it up and they're doing it right now."

Metzger found the back of the net, just 23 seconds into game one to ignite the offensive fireworks for the home side.

Innisfil tied the game, but St. Thomas replied with two goals in 31 seconds, for a 3-1 lead. It was 4-2 Jr. Stars after one period.

The Winterhawks made it a one goal game on two more occasions, but the Jr. Stars responded both times within a minute, restoring their two goal cushion.

Wyatt Leblanc and Rylan Varcoe, had two goals each for Innisfil.

Entering into the championship series, Innisfil was the top ranked team at Atom A. The Winterhawks eliminated Bradford, Barrie and Whitby Blue, for their spot in the final. Innisfil trailed Bradford, four points to none and five to three, before winning back to back to advance.

Game two is Sunday, at the Timken Centre. Game three and game four, if necessary, both at Innisfil, next weekend.

 A year ago, 14 of the current 17 players with the Jr. Stars, won an OMHA title at the minor atom level.

Three players, Zylstra, Darren Hagerty and Chase Holder, have older brothers on the St. Thomas Jr. Stars' minor bantam team, currently in their OMHA final against the Barrie Jr. Colts.

Aiden Holder, Brent Hagerty and Jack Zylstra, won their first game at Barrie, 3-2.

Six St. Thomas teams had advanced to OMHA semifinal action.