Feature photo: Back row (from left) Coach Shaun Vaillancourt, Nick Lavigne, Jacob Schnurr, Colin Jones, Garrett Ralph, Ethan Murdy, Quinn Thompson, Cam Aben, Braiden Jones, Conner White, Trainer Jacob Nelson, Brad Rose, and Dan Barnett; (middle row from left) Chris Aben, Adam Long, Blake Schmitz, Wyatt Boothby, Dylan Welsh, Kyler Campbell; (front from left) goalies Tyler Miller and Scott Perry. Missing from photo: Assistant Coach Sandy Campbell, Trainer Steve Lavigne and Manager Marta Long.
The MBRP Major Midget Otters held their heads high with pride as they represented their hometown in the OMHA Finals series against Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL) Wolves. Every time they skated out onto the ice they were focused and determined to fight for the win as a team to the very last second of play.
The series began on March 11 here at the Don Lough arena where the teams left the weekend with one win apiece before heading to game three on March 18 in Niagara. The boys played hard with the players neck and neck on the ice. After the first period, it was tied 1-1. Both teams kept up the same momentum of play with another tied score of 3-3 at the end of the second. The third and final period was hard to watch as the refs were calling penalties for the Otters but not for the Wolves – there were 26 minutes of penalties given to the Otters and only four minutes for the Wolves. The end result was a 6-3 loss which gave the NOTL team a one game lead in the series.
Sunday, March 19 was the day the Otters knew they had to win to stay in the series. The Wolves arena brought in approximately 500 fans to cheer on the two finest teams in their division.
MBRP Major Midget Otters huddle for the final time in the OMHA finals (Photo: Ruth Shaw)
The Otters battled hard for the win but came up short by only one goal for a 1-2 loss. The Midgets went all the way and proudly came second overall in the OMHA Finals.
The Otters’ family, friends and supporters were excited to see the team make it to the OMHA finals. “For many, this was the first time so it was very memorable,” said team manager Marta Long. “It was also a great way to finish off 11 years of minor hockey,” said Long, herself a hockey mom.
Many of the players were in their third and final year of minor hockey so it was a time of celebration when the team made it to the finals as well as a sweet goodbye to a sport and journey that each family loved.
The team’s third year players are: Scott Perry, Wyatt Boothby, Garret Ralph, Chris Aben, Dylan Welsh, Jacob Schnurr, Adam Long and Quinn Thompson. What a season, boys!
Photo: Kaitlyn Belfry
Manager Long also shared the team’s initial goal: “It was to get past the South Muskoka Bears in the first series of the playdowns, then the kids realized that they could do it and pulled together despite some hurdles. Friendships deepened and lasting memories were made.”
Overall, these boys should be very proud of their team’s accomplishments. The Major team had a very successful 2016/17 season with two tournament wins – the Lincoln All Star Fall Challenge in October, and the Tim Greavette Tournament in Bracebridge in November – and a berth in both the Muskoka Parry Sound and the OMHA finals. Way to represent, Otters!
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