Dragons capture bantam BB crown

  Connor Erb scores lone goal in win over Collingwood clinching OMHA final

Sunday, March 25, 2018

By Rob J. Ross 

DORCHESTER - There had to be something special in the water 14-15 years ago in Dorchester.

Dorchester is currently celebrating two Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) championships with the bantam BB and bantam AE Dragons, winning titles within three days of each other.

Dragons' captain Connor Erb scored the only goal on the power play, as Dorchester blanked the Collingwood Winterhawks, 1-0, in game four of the bantam BB final, to win the series, six points to two, Sunday, at the Flight Exec Centre.

Just 24 hours earlier, Curtis McKay had a hat trick carrying the Dragons to a 3-1 win, at Collingwood, allowing the opportunity to win the final on home ice.

Dorchester finishes with an overall record of 41-5-5.

"Ever since I was a little kid, we've all been working hard and we finally got the red hats. It feels awesome," said Erb, who wasn't 100 per cent sure he even scored. "Me and my buddy Sam (Hornick) were both in front and we were both just whacking at the puck. He may have got it in. We're splitting it (goal) down the middle! It came from the point and we were working on getting the rebound."

Making it difficult for Winterhawks' goalie Aidan Hull was part of the Dragon's game plan.

"Getting pucks deep, getting shots on net and plopping our butts right in front of the goalie did the job," said Erb. "We had to kept pressing them and pounding the net. I don't think we did that enough (in game two). We just kept getting shots on net and getting rebounds (in games three and four)."

Dragons' goalie Bryce Gnidec stopped all rubber between the pipes.

"We cleared the puck when we had too. We were passing, shooting, hitting the net, doing everything right. The little things, like tips past their defence," said Gnidec. "I was a bit nervous this whole game. It feels amazing now. It's insane for us."

Dorchester opened the series with a 3-2 win at Collingwood in game one. The Winterhawks tied the series taking game two, 2-1, in Dorchester.

"Two teams going for an OMHA championship "They (Collingwood) were fighting for their lives and we wanted it today" Dorchester head coach Jeff McKay said. "They (Collingwood) wanted the same thing. They're playing for the red hats and that makes for a very competitive series."

Following the loss, the first for Dorchester during the OMHA playdowns, McKay made small adjustments.

"We tweaked a few things, moving a couple guys around to see if we could create a little more offence and also shore up our defence. It worked," said McKay. "It wasn't major stuff but they (his players) responded."

The Dragons won twice at Collingwood, including game three when the Dragons did the goal scoring for both teams.

"Actually our defenceman scored in our own net," laughed McKay. "Nick Andrews got the goal for them."

Both Erb and Gnidec pointed out Hull and Winterhawks' forwards Jaeden French and Luke Moxam, as players who were strong against the Dragons.

"They really made a difference for their team. Their goalie was good, especially down low," said Gnidec.

"They had two good guys (French, Moxam) who were quick and they would come up the middle, added Erb. "Finally we figured out how to stop them."

It's the second provincial appearance for Erb, who in November ran at the OFSAA cross-country championships, for Lord Dorchester secondary school.

"I enjoy both sports. Both atmospheres are intense and a lot of fun," said Erb, who feels the running has helped his hockey. "I'm a lot faster than I used to be before I was a runner and I can last much longer."

It will be a lasting memory for coach McKay, having the opportunity to coach his son, Curtis, while his older son, Connor, along with Tyler Vere, helped behind the bench. A decade ago, Jeff was coaching both Connor and Tyler, as part of Dorchester's minor midget and then midget team, both which won OMHA titles.

"This is why this is special. I won with those guys as coach when they were players and now they're helping me coach. It's very special."

The current players are all born in 2003 or 2004.

"In Dorchester, this age group is very strong, not only in hockey, but they won WOSSAA basketball (for LDSS)," said Jeff. "They're tremendous athletes. We're very fortunate in Dorchester. For whatever reason, the ‘03s and ‘04s are a strong group. So we have two very strong teams."