Going the distance for those red hats

   St. Thomas wins OMHA minor bantam A championship taking marathon series

   over Barrie with a 4-3 comeback victory in game six on home ice

Sunday, April 1, 2018

By Rob J. Ross 

ST. THOMAS - The St. Thomas Jr. Stars seem to enjoy taking the long way around. Perhaps it's more scenic.

Trent Rickwood had two goals, including the winner, as the St. Thomas celebrated an OMHA minor bantam A championship, defeating the Barrie Jr. Colts, 4-3, in the sixth game of the six point final, at the Timken Centre.

St. Thomas took the series, seven points to five, to finish the play-downs with a 15-4-3 record.

Jr. Stars' captain Liam Kidder also potted a pair of goals, his second marker tying the game at three, after St. Thomas trailed heading into the third period.

"The boys didn't quit. They worked hard. After the second period, we told the boys, the next 15 minutes have to be our best. They went out there and scored two goals and we hung on. We got better as the game went on. The boys really stepped up," St. Thomas head coach Rob Richardson said. "We were quicker to the puck. We seemed to be a half a step behind in the first two periods, but in the third period we beat them to the puck and were able out man them. It was great to see the boys step it up one more notch."

Tied at three, Rickwood seized an opportunity, jumping all over a Barrie turnover.

"I saw the D cough up the puck so I took advantage of it, went in, did a head fake and tucked it in the back," Rickwood said. "It feels great to get the game winner."

During the second intermission, down 3-2, the Jr. Stars knew they needed one of their best periods of the season.

"We weren't happy but we just had to bring it the hardest that we have all year," said Rickwood, a Grade eight student at Elgin Court elementary school. "It was our desire to want to win the game, wear the red hats and win an OMHA championship."

The Jr. Stars took the series opener, before Barrie captured back to back games. St. Thomas hung on to win game four, at Memorial Arena, March 25, tying the series at four points. (Read: Jr. Stars tie series)

St. Thomas and Barrie skated to a 1-1 draw in game five at Barrie, on March 31, setting up the rare sixth encounter on Stars' home ice. Kidder scored for the Jr. Stars, assisted by Ashton Ivanyshyn.

"That (tie) was not in the game plan," laughs Richardson. "I would have rather worn the red hats home for the three hour bus ride. But to win in front of our home fans couldn't have been any better."

Robertson credits his assistant coaches Aiden McCullough and Jordan Babb and the work of the players, for the team's success.

A sixth game in a six point series doesn't occur often, but the Jr. Stars had back to back series go that distance. The Jr. Stars also traveled six games to defeat Centre Wellington, in the semi-finals.

It is the second OMHA championship for St. Thomas minor hockey this season. A week ago, the atom Jr. Stars won their title, defeating Innisfil. (Read: Jr. Stars win Atom title)

Now three pairs of brothers can celebrate together. Aiden Holder, Brent Haggerty and Jack Zylstra, of the minor bantam Stars, matched the the feat accomplished by their younger siblings, Chase Holder, Darren Haggerty and Mathew Zylstra, from the atom Stars.